Rotterdam in development

28 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 Please introduce yourself, and say a few words about how you think the developments are going in Rotterdam. I have worked for the Municipality of Rotterdam since August. As Area Development Director I am responsible for the financial and commercial aspects of urban area development. I have worked in the real estate sector since 1985, including as Managing Director at MAB. Projects developed in Rotterdam under my administration include Cool63, De Rotterdam and First. Last year, I was Development Director at MRP Development and a partner in OperatieNL. What I have noticed in my current position, but also of course in my previous jobs, is that there is strong movement on the Rotterdam housing market. Rotterdam is more and more attractive to both new residents and tourists, which means that the housing market is becoming increasingly cramped, causing house prices to rise rapidly in the city. As a municipality, we are working hard to maintain the city’s attractiveness. Areas such as Rotterdam Central District and the inner city have seen significant development in recent years, and other developments such as Katendrecht, the Wilhelminapier, Stadium Park and Hart van Zuid have a lot of potential. In spite of the growing popularity of both Rotterdam and the areas in development, Rotterdam still faces a significant challenge. The demand for homes is high, and if we want to meet that demand we will have to build around 50,000 additional homes by 2040. At the same time, there are still a lot of m 2 of empty offices (about 18%) and retail premises (around 7%), and in the current, tight housing market these premises definitely offer opportunities to meet part of the demand. This will require creativity, courage and cooperation. INTERVIEW JOS MELCHERS DIRECTOR OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF ROTTERDAM foto@mladenpikulic.nl