EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network

Living above shops

Introduction

Local funding of architectural and financial feasibility studies in order to bring back into use empty floors above shops / Management of housing above shops by Agences Immobilières sociales and renovation subsidies.

Problem

In this project, four issues are addressed:

facilitating the return of inhabitants to the city centre districts by reactivating the potential of empty housing units;
restoring diversity in monofunctional shopping areas;
safeguarding city centre heritage;
developing housing density in the city centre.

Description

Case study document elaborated by the city of Brussels within the framework of the URBACT network Partners 4 action, dedicated to Public Private Partnerships.

Approach

1) Funding architectural and feasibility studies on buildings owned by private individuals in order to show to the owners the interest of renovating floors for housing purposes.
Creation of Social Estate Agencies in charge of taking on the cost (partially, up to 40%) of restoration work for empty floors, and managing the renting process (the Social Estate Agency guarantee to the owner a regular rental income, even if the tenant does not pay the rent and if the housing is empty).

Results

To be assessed - Operational phase and actual renovation works in 2006.

Beneficiaries

individuals working in the city centre willing to live in the area where they work;
individual owners of building in the city centre;
the urban environment as a whole and its “users” as it aims at improving social and functional mix in shopping areas, preserving the buildings.

Resources used

Public Private Partnership involving the City of Brussels, the Brussels Capital Region, the Social Estate Agencies and individual private owners.
For the renovation project of the buildings located 8-10 Marché aux Herbes, Brussels : Total cost estimation: 436.000 € (37% public / 63% private owners).

Contact info

Brussels City Council – City Development Delegation (CDD)
Ms Marie Demanet, tel. +32 2 279 31 43

Project start date

01/01/1998

Links

City of Brussels

Living above shops (PDF, Eng, 75 KB)

Living above shops (PDF, Fre, 75 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Urban renewal

Keywords

City centre development