Neighbors from the Haarlem Sterrenbuurt started today with the so-called ‘clean demolition’ of what was their community center more than two years ago. The Posthuis, where all kinds of neighborhood activities took place, was probably set on fire in 2020 by vandals. Where normally the municipality takes care of the reconstruction in such a situation, local residents decided to take over the building and do the reconstruction themselves.
Residents of the Sterrenbuurt have started rebuilding their community center that burned down in 2020 – NH Nieuws
A man wearing protective goggles attacks the concrete floor with a jackhammer. Two other men, equipped with construction helmets and gloves, pull down the still standing inner walls together. “These are all local residents”, Henk Jansma says with a proud look. “If you let the municipality rebuild the building, you get exactly the same community center back. But we want more. We want to be able to connect more with the neighborhood, add more social applications.”
“I just like to do something together with the neighborhood”
For that reason, the neighborhood decided to take over the building from the municipality. The scribble was made last Wednesday. “Now we can make the building more sustainable and make it bigger”, explains Ingrid van Koppenhagen. “And by doing it together, we also have fun with it.” Local resident Wouter agrees. “I live around the corner from here. I just like to do something with the neighborhood.”
Spring or summer party as opening
The plans are ambitious. For example, one of the long outer walls has to be moved outwards by just under two meters to create more interior space. “And that wall becomes a glass wall that can be opened,” explains Jansma. “This way you can create more connections from the inside to the outside, with the Zaanenpark.”
If everything goes well and the residents get a little carried away, the new Posthuis will be ready in the spring. “The goal is that we will celebrate the spring party of 2023 here. And if that becomes the summer party, I think it’s good too. It’s about putting something here together.”