Rotterdam in development

R O T T E R D A M I N O N T W I K K E L I N G | 2 0 1 8 22 enough interested parties in the business world to finance Feyenoord City’s wish list: “We are looking for market actors who want to invest, both project developers and investors. The climate is favourable, as Rotterdam is really attractive at the moment. We also want to capitalise on the draw to the big city that is currently in full swing. When so many people want to live in the city, there have to be attractive homes available for them to move into.” “That fits within the context of increased inner- city density that we strive for as a municipality,” says Adriaan Visser. Frank Keizer: “The current plans envisage around 1,700 homes. More may still be added, including some very extraordinary houses. 160 homes will be built in the second ring of the Kuip, the current stadium. The housing types will be very diverse: from 50 m 2 to 140 m 2 .” “We’ve already received registrations from people who are really keen to live there,” Jan van Merwijk remarks. But they are not there yet. The plan is divided into different implementation phases, with the construction of the new stadium at the heart. Next, the adaptation of the old stadium will come up for discussion: building homes in the second ring and restoring the stadium to its former state before the renovation in the 1990s, including the addition of an athletics track. The third phase involves tackling the area surrounding the Kuip. PERFORMANCE TARGETS This should result in Feyenoord City giving a boost not just to Rotterdam South, but to the city as a whole. Adriaan Visser: “Its location is precisely where North and South come together. That makes Feyenoord City very important for the economy, employment, participation in sports and the development of adjoining neighbourhoods. It links different parts of the city together; not only in Rotterdam South, but also across the river.” To guarantee that Rotterdam South also benefits from the Frank Keizer Hans van Rossum Work is already under way on the new Sport Campus south of the Olympiaweg, including a lovely club house. Various grassroots sports clubs share these facilities.