Rotterdam in development

65 R O T T E R D A M I N D E V E L O P M E N T | 2 0 1 8 billion euros,” Pastors explains. Not all of that sum is available yet. Pastors: “But we’re on the right track. Now the market is recovering, investors are prepared to put their money into new and existing homes again. Rotterdam South is very interesting to investors at the moment, because the homes and the land here are relatively cheap. Many places have yet to see an increase in value, which is precisely why this is a good time for investors to get on board.” There are also some areas in Rotterdam South where things are moving quickly. Katendrecht has been ‘booming’ for some time. The ‘pulse of Katendrecht’, Parkstad and Hart van Zuid projects envisage a lot of new residential buildings, which will have an impact on neighbouring areas. In line with the Kop van Zuid and Katendrecht, the Afrikaanderwijk is of great interest to people looking for a home. In fact, half of all house buyers in the Afrikaanderwijk come from the northern part of the city, where homes have become either unavailable or unaffordable. Until recently, this development was hardly considered possible. Pastors: “It goes to show that, as an investor in Rotterdam South, you are no longer swimming against the tide but really engaging in value creation. The image is beginning to change, and the fact is that you still get the most bang for your buck here.” MORE ATTRACTIVE AND MORE BEAUTIFUL All the NPRZ’s efforts are partly focused on overturning the traditionally negative image that still clings to Rotterdam South in many people’s minds. Large-scale projects such as Hart van Zuid and Feyenoord City are helping to achieve this aim. Pastors: “Hart van Zuid is making the whole area more attractive and more beautiful. The shops are getting a boost, Ahoy is flourishing, the theatre is being renovated and in my view we will have a national cultural institute: this will be an area for discovery, where people can spend an entire day, including tourists who have already seen highlights such as the Markthal.” The Feyenoord City development has consequences for the neighbouring areas of Feijenoord, Hillesluis and Bloemhof. “Those are still pretty anonymous neighbourhoods, but when something so impressive is organised nearby, they will also get a boost,” Pastors expects. It has been agreed that the realisation of the plans will get at least 100 people from each neighbourhood into work who are currently on benefits. Pastors: “That’s the beauty of the NPRZ’s integrated approach: everything is interconnected here, too. Now we know everyone, everywhere. When someone calls us with a plan, an idea or a potential investment, we can help them straight away, as long as it is in line with the positive socioeconomic development of Rotterdam South.”