The City of Brussels has applied for an urban planning permit for the redevelopment of the public space around the new administrative center, reports Belgian news outlet BRUZZ. The proposal includes more trees, and all above-ground parking spaces would disappear.
The project involves the reconstruction of Fishmongers’ Street, Black Lievevrouw Street, Lakense Street, Kiekenmarkt, Hall Street, Bisschops Street and Augustijnen Street. Hallenstraat and Kiekenmarkt will become a pedestrian zone, creating a homogeneous whole with the pedestrian zone of the central avenues. In order to control the traffic flow in this pedestrian zone, retractable short posts will be placed at the entrances to Hallenstraat and Kiekenmarkt.
The streets around the future administrative center of the City of Brussels are the missing link between the pedestrian zone and the St. Catherine district.
Ans Persoons, Alderperson responsible for Urban Planning and Public Space
Visverkopersstraat, Zwarte Lievevrouwstraat and Lakensestraat will be transformed into bicycle streets, where cyclists will have priority over motorized traffic. The streets will have red bicycle lanes to emphasize this status. The direction for motor vehicles will not change.
A small square will be created for the new administrative center at the current intersection of Zwarte Lievevrouwstraat, Melsensstraat and Joseph Plateaustraat. The space for this will be created by cutting off this intersection for car traffic. To make the changes possible, all parking spaces for cars will be removed. There will, however, be 140 bicycle racks.
Many bus stops in the area will be reorganized. The bus stop on Zwarte Lievevrouwstraat will be removed, and the bus stop on Augustijnenstraat will be transformed into a stop for transit buses. The bus stop on Bisschopsstraat will be kept and a canopy will be added. Two new stops with shelters will also be built on Visverkopersstraat.
The aim of this reconstruction is to better connect the neighborhoods. The soil will become much less mineral, which will allow us to capture more water and keep the streets cooler in strong heat.
Ans Persoons, Alderperson responsible for Urban Planning and Public Space
Two sick trees would be felled and forty three new trees of different species would be planted. Several green beds with flowers and grasses will also be included. The green areas should also provide a natural water basin in case of heavy rainfall. New street lighting will be installed in Hallenstraat, Kiekenmarkt and Gretrystraat, coordinated with the lighting of the central avenues.
The permit file can be accessed online and anyone who wants to can submit an objection or comment until February 10, 2022. After that, the consultation committee will work with those comments and a series of opinions to make a resolution on the plans.
