Woensel shopping center in Eindhoven is undergoing a major overhaul. Part of WoensXL will be demolished to make way for at least two thousand homes, catering establishments and greenery. At least that is the plan of the municipality of Eindhoven, owner Certitudo, housing associations and the shopkeepers’ association. The large vacancy in the shopping area is the reason for the major metamorphosis.
WoensXL is a household name in the region. The semi-covered center with about 140 shops just celebrated its 50th anniversary. But there is not much reason to celebrate. The shopping center has been in decline for years. Shoppers stay away and the vacancy rate continues to increase. 17 stores are now empty, almost 15 percent.
Recently, parties had investigated how the second shopping center in Eindhoven can be saved. An initial plan has now been made for this. “We want a more compact shopping center with a more village-like feel,” says René Clijssen of Certitudo, major owner of the shopping centre.
Part of the north, west and east sides of the shopping area will have to make way for this, as will the parking areas. “Those gigantic parking spaces are an outdated concept. As a result, the shopping center is now an isolated area. We want to get rid of that.”
Alderman Yasin Torunoglu: “We want to bring back the liveliness, with lots of greenery and squares with catering.” Torunoglu even dreams about parks with trees. “But we also have a housing assignment to achieve.”
The entire renovation should also free up space for 2000 to 2500 new homes. “More homes means more visitors for WoensXL and more liveliness.” The parking spaces for visitors and residents would then have to disappear under the houses.
The shopkeepers’ association is happy with the plans. Three years ago, he sent a fire letter to the municipality about the large vacancy. “It is now too monotonous, too few catering establishments and too few homes. In the evening after six o’clock it is extinct here,” says chairman Marcel Emmen of the shopkeepers’ association.
12,000 square meters of retail space will soon disappear, almost half of the terminal of Eindhoven Airport. “For this, five thousand square meters of catering will be returned. For example, there are plans for two large restaurants, a bowling center and a cinema.”
The sky seems the limit for the renewed WoensXL. The cost of the plans is in the millions. Yet there is one but. “We cannot cough this up with all parties,” says the alderman. He hopes the government will help. Ultimately, the plan should serve as a blueprint for other shopping centers in the city. “This is just the beginning. We have a lot of these types of neighborhood shopping centers in the city where we can give the retail industry a really big boost.”
It is not yet clear when the demolition and construction can start. The plan is still far from final. The ideas will be further developed in the near future. The draft will probably be presented to the city council in October or November. The new residential, living and shopping center should be completely ready in eight to ten years.