At the Burgemeester Gratamaplein in Veenoord, the demolition of ten semi-detached houses has started. They make way for ten more sustainable houses. Of the ten tenants who left because of the demolition, nine will return to the square in due course.
The houses that are being demolished date from the 1960s. They were struggling with moisture and, according to the landlord Woonservice Drenthe, they cannot be made energy-efficient at acceptable costs. The houses that replace it are more sustainable but smaller. They are life-resistant, with two bedrooms, one of which is on the ground floor. The sanitary facilities are also downstairs.
Back to old place
Although the houses will have fewer square meters, the majority of the tenants who left Burgemeester Gratamaplein in the past period would like to return to their old location. That has everything to do with the location: a lawn in front of the door and a wide view. The shopping area of New Amsterdam and the station are also relatively close by. The new houses that will be built are also part of the social rent. Construction is expected to begin in February next year.
Diagonally opposite the Burgemeester Gratamaplein was the former school building De Werkhorst until the beginning of 2019. There are now 21 senior homes on that site, also built on behalf of Woonservice Drenthe.