The outdated shopping center in Schalkwijk, which is now being completely renovated, should eventually have a wide mix of crowd-pulling functions. For example, a cinema has already been built, and more space is also being made for homes and catering in the area. According to the municipality, the large number of vacant properties is due to the fact that the number of retail meters is now too large for the area.
Michael Kaldenhoven has been commissioned by the municipality of Haarlem to tackle all developments around Centrum Schalkwijk, as it is now called. “From very concrete building plans to new initiatives.” According to him, the development of the area has several phases. “We want to complete the first phase this year.”
In addition to a new cinema and supermarket, more catering establishments will be realized this year and considerably more homes and a new parking garage will be added. When making plans, the municipality considers what the neighborhood needs.
“Of course we take into account that it has always been a shopping center and we look at how many shops are needed,” says Kaldenhoven. “It is now too big, which is why you see vacancy. In addition to shopping, we want to create more social functions such as a library, but also sports functions. All in combination with housing.”
The development of a food hall is also on the agenda this year. “This should be a nice place where you can have a snack and drink. With terraces, but also places to sit inside. A real addition to the catering industry that we already want to create there.”
Conversations
Discussions are being held with the owners’ association, to which dozens of entrepreneurs are affiliated, about the details of these plans. According to spokesperson Janneke Heinen, they are positive about the new vision of the center. “Of course it is chaos now, but that is part of a renovation. It is for a good cause, because we all see that the old shopping center needs renovation.”
Kaldenhoven indicates that they want to make a plan this year to build even more homes on the south side of the center. “Another 1150 apartments will have to be built on the site of the McDonalds and the old V&D, next to Ceylonpoort on the north side, where 162 homes will now be built.” But that plan still has to pass the city council, according to Kaldenhoven. “We hope to start building here next year.”
Vacancy
The shopping center is currently largely empty. According to Kaldenhoven, this vacancy is a reason to make new plans for the area. “There are too many retail meters, the properties are simply not rented out. If we reduce that, the good shops will return and with construction we meet the demand for more homes.”
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The plan is to tear down and rebuild the old shopping center building step by step. “We agreed with the association of owners of the shopping center that we want a total renovation. But not all at once, otherwise the shopkeepers who are still there will be out on the street. Moreover, we still need approval from this. the city council for questions. We will present those plans this year.”