Brussels is starting out on the first steps of an ambitious plan to turn the “EU Quarter” of the city into a living neighborhood with shops, apartments, restaurants and public amenities.
The area, known for containing nearly nothing but offices of various European Union agencies, has long been seen as having no street life and no life after working hours.
Now, the city and Belgian government are planning to convert 21 office buildings in the area to new uses. In addition to creating sustainable office space in 70% of the space, 25% will be set aside for housing and 5% for public use such as schools or a police station. A fifth of the housing will be social housing.
The raw materials of the plan are 21 buildings Belgium bought from the EU, which no longer needs them post-pandemic because of widespread remote work continuing. Another part of the plan will add green rooftops to some of the buildings and create more green space at ground level.
The first step, emptying the buildings, is underway; it will take about three years to turn the buildings into their new uses.
