The mayor and aldermen of the municipality of Westerkwartier decided on Tuesday to sell the town hall in Leek. The municipality wants to develop the site into a residential area.
All municipal buildings on the site in Leek will be sold. This also includes the field service area, the old Ulo building and the old messenger house on Tolberterstraat. The old front house, Huize Klein Nienoord, will remain. A procedure is underway to make this a municipal monument. The fire station will remain for the time being.
“With the sale of the town hall, we are creating a great opportunity for sustainable new construction,” says alderman Bert Nederveen. “It is a beautiful residential location, close to the center and in the middle of a park-like environment.”
From 15 to 8 buildings
The municipality is selling because, since the reorganization in 2019, it owns four town halls, eight field service locations and three places for social development company Novatec. In 2022, the city council decided to reduce the number of buildings from fifteen to eight.
Sales planning
Project developers can participate in the sales procedure from Tuesday via bidbook.nl . After that, a maximum of five parties are selected. These parties can submit a plan based on established criteria. Experts assess the plans.
As soon as a ‘winner’ is known, the mayor and aldermen take a formal decision to sell. Subsequently, the planning for the residential area will be further elaborated. A zoning plan procedure will then also start.
The town hall in Leek will remain open until the spring of 2024, according to the usual opening hours. Demolition and construction work will start in the second half of 2024. The outdoor service area will remain open longer.
In 2026, the town hall in Zuidhorn will become the central office location. In 2025, the municipal field service and employees of Novatec will move to a new building on the Leeksterveld. This will also include a meeting room that can be used for contact between the municipality and residents.
Walk-in meeting
The municipality of Westerkwartier will hold a walk-in meeting on Tuesday 4 April in the old council chamber in Leek. Local residents and other residents can then ask questions about the sale and contribute ideas for a new residential area – this is also possible by mail . The municipality collects all ideas and gives them to the project developers.