The De Lijn bus (and tram) depot at Nieuw Zurenborg at Draakplaats across Het Roze Huis is to become a pop-up neighbourhood park. The plan is mentioned in the City of Antwerp‘s government agreement (bestuursakkoord), which political parties N-VA and Vooruit approved. 

What does the government agreement say?

Objective #20

“We will start the Ringstad projects at Nieuw Zurenborg and Luisbekelaar after the results and the decision on the R1 South roofing study by the Intendant. The depot at Nieuw Zurenborg will be set up as a pop-up neighbourhood park. We will temporarily use the De Lijn drivers’ car park at the gas site as a neighbourhood car park, pending the final development of Nieuw Zurenborg.

Objective #5

“The current De Lijn depots that are insufficient and located in residential areas will be relocated to more suitable locations. We will consult with De Lijn for short- and long-term solutions. We will consult with Flanders and De Lijn for an expansion of temporary depot capacity pending a new depot in the south of Antwerp.”

Temporary

Lien Van de Kelder (Vooruit) lives in the neighbourhood and at the time of her interview with ATV she was future Alderman for Culture, Work, Equal Opportunities and Development Cooperation.  She is now.

She expresses her satisfaction. While a soil survey will determine if the site is suiteble for a park long-term, opening up the space for neighbourhood parking space and a park is good news. Having a depot and thus a lot of traffic annoyed the neighbours. 

Zurenborg

Zurenborg has the reputation of being the fiefdom of middle class, highly educated leftist people. In Flemish they’re called salonsocialisten or parlour socialists. In French the term gauche caviar or caviar left is sometimes used. It’s not a flattering term. Detractors use it for people who say they are progressive and very much in touch with equality of opportunities and green issues; but they also love their comfort and travelling far by plane.

The symbol for them is the bakfiets or cargo bike used to transport groceries and children. 

But this means the residents are people with a network, they know (or are) people with power and influence, they’re well-versed with laws, regulations and how to lobby.

Zurenborg is very popular for its bars, restaurants and terrasjes, outside seating. 

It is also the homo of Het Roze Huis, The Pink House. This umbrella organisation groups LGBTQI associations of the Province of Antwerp. 

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