After years of impoverishment, the Piet Blom building in Heemskerk was sold after ten years. Entrepreneur wants Boots expects to breathe new life into the building within a few months. Residents cannot get their luck. “Everything is good, as long as it looks a bit clever.”
At the beginning of September it became clear that something was going on again at the Piet Blom building in Heemskerk, where previously Gasservice Kennemerland was located. Unknown cars drove and forth, and a for sale sign that appeared briefly, disappeared just as quickly. It kept the residents of the winter king and the surrounding streets busy for a while. Now the high word is out: the striking building has a new owner.
The news is a relief for local residents. For years, the parking lot was hardly visible because of the proliferating greenery, which even grew out of the roof. Quite apart from the rats and the gates that flashed loudly in sturdy winds. “We are happy that something is coming. Everything is good, as long as it looks a bit clever,” says neighbor Bianca.
Legal aftermath
Entrepreneur Wil Boots, together with his partner, has been the new owner of the Heemskerk eye -catcher for a week. “We have concluded a direct deal with Gasservice Kennemerland. It is a nice place – we saw perspective in it,” he says optimistically.
Not many others can do that optimism. For Gasservice, the building was primarily a headache file, in which a lot of money was spent on lawyers. The company once played with the idea of ​​demolishing the building and building apartments, but the municipality put a stop to it because of the monumental status: the building is a design of the architect Piet Blom of the same name. The legal aftermath of it is still running.
Ugly yellow color away
Boots and his partner now take over the building, but are not in their stomach. “We are not going to argue with the municipality. We want to look for a suitable earnings model within the current contour. We have different things a week. It could be a daycare center, some small businesses or perhaps a social interpretation. But everything is still premature.”
He understands that the neighborhood has annoyed for years. “It looked terrible. We are still waiting with those fences, but we have already taken that forest growth and we are busy with the gutters. I also hope to paint that filthy yellow color. As soon as it is architecturally, we will really get started.” He expects to start the renovation within a few months.
Local residents Bianca and ED hope they will be kept informed of the plans. “I see every day if something happens,” says Ed. “Hopefully something beautiful will come, but something so it stays a bit quiet.”