According to the VVD, 1200 homes could easily be added with the help of an extra subsidy. According to the party, many floors above retail properties are empty and could be converted into homes. The VVD has asked questions about this to the council.
Amsterdam already has a subsidy for converting floors above shops into homes, the so-called ‘living above shops and companies’ subsidy. This subsidy amounts to 25,000 euros per home and is intended to entice shop owners to transform their upper floors into homes.
According to the VVD, the current subsidy is not enough to tempt the owners, while the potential of the subsidy is great, according to the party. “It is estimated that 240 homes can be created on Kalverstraat alone, 180 homes on Nieuwendijk and 70 homes on Warmoesstraat,” the party wrote to the council.
The VVD wants to double the subsidy to 50,000 euros per home and increase the budget to two million euros in total. To ensure that “owners are persuaded more quickly to create a home above their property”.
The party sees that the municipality must help think of solutions to make renovation attractive for shop owners. “One of the reasons shop owners aren’t keen is because this requires a door and stairs to the residences above. These doors and stairs come at the expense of shop window and retail space.”
According to the VVD, one of the possibilities to solve the problem can be found in Alkmaar. “They have devised a glass passage there, while preserving the architectural value of the building. This keeps the shop window more visible.”