|
contact person: Mr. T. Dike legal adviser: Mr. R. van Heijningen Koninginnegracht 138 T 350 46 88 F 350 17 06 |
|
|
Building projects in Archipelbuurt: |
Conversion plans for Prinsevinkenstraat 17-19 |
| News from working group Urban Planning | |
| Council's plans for International Zone | ARCHIVE |
|
Ten new “hofje” homes behind Sumatrastraat
The development of ten “hofje” houses on a site behind Sumatrastraat is well under way. The building inspectorate has approved the plans and the various council bodies have received all the necessary paperwork to grant the building permit. The developer has promised in his security plans to only make use of the archway from Sumatrastraat to the site and not via the playground of the Archipel School or to deliver building materials other by this route. Also see: http://www.sumatrahof.nl/
Tim Dike and Enno Thedinga, working party Urban Planning |
 |
||||
|
Development of former LTO office block in Prinsevinkenpark Not long ago the first phase of this project was completed and the five apartments in the period property making up part of the original office building have been handed over. There has also been progress on the second phase of project Prinsevinkenpark 17-19. The city planning department and the building inspectorate recently gave their approval for the design for 17 new apartments submitted by the developer De Prins van Archipel B.V.
Before construction can commence the Municipal Council has to grant an exemption from the zoning scheme regulations. This procedure began with the submission of the drawings and a building feasibity study for public perusal in the Stadsdeelkantoor on Thursday 25 March. Interested parties have until 28 April to approach the Council Executive with their opinions. Information evening If you cannot attend the information evening but would like more information please e-mail Prinsevinkenpark@gmail.com. You will then be sent more information after 14 April. |
|
||||
|
News from the working group Urban Planning Introduction Council policy covers among other things the density of urban development, high-rise and urban habitats. A policy, incidentally, that is not always consistent and hardly recognizable in the separate manifestos of the coalition parties. The basic starting point for our working party’s activities is the preservation of the character of and the quality of life in the neighbourhood. These are naturally conflicting interests. This is what we have to contend with as a working party. And in addition the financial means to take up arms are limited. Project developers too usually have more interest in high-density development than preserving local character. The results of discussions between the working party and project developer are rarely acceptable to both sides; it is a question of compromise. Item 1: New development in Surinamestraat A good compromise was actually reached with the developer Q Vastgoed on the project in Surinamestraat. This was thanks to the neighbours, residents and the lobbyists Mr. Vroom & Mr. Nieuwenhuys. Item 2: Redevelopment of Willemspark School Frederikstraat The opposite was the case with the complex of six apartments in the inner courtyard at the rear of 14 Frederikstraat. The Lobby Group Willemspark ll has initiated an appeal procedure against the issuing of a building permit. The Haagsche Schoolvereniging (The Hague School Association) has submitted plans for the redevelopment of its building in Frederikstraat, namely the Willemspark School. The height of the present school located in the enclosed courtyard is well over 3 metres; the height in the new plans is 9 metres! These plans too involve a more massive construction. A working party representative was at the presentation of these plans to the Welstandcommissie (Building Regulations Committee). The Committee rejected the plans outright: the area into which the two projects have to fit (the school & apartment complex) was deemed “completely unacceptable". Item 3: Redevelopment in Prinsevinkenpark Mr. De Greef will be presenting the new plans that the project developer submitted to the council to our working party in March. Item 4: Zoning Scheme Archipel/Willemspark The council will be amending the current Zoning Scheme (dating from 1982) this year. Presently the Scheme encompasses Archipel & Willemspark II but the amended version will include the area around Plein 1813 (Willemspark I). In due time the working party, in conjunction with all those in the neighbourhood, will be taking a critical look at the new concept. For further news: regularly check Latest News colomn on the homepage. TD - January 2009 |
|
||||
|
Council’s plans for the International Zone The municipal council has published a Memorandum on the basic principles for the International Zone. The fact that our neighbourhood is popular among expats is not a surprise. What is though is that according to the municipal council an extensive building programme is required to please the international institutions.
The fact that the council’s real motives for this tunnel are completely different (viz accessibility for traffic to the area around the Hague World Forum and safety) is less relevant. What is also positive is that extra funding will be made available within the International Zone to realize a higher level of maintenance for public space. This is good to know because if the A&W Residents Association’s plans for the restructuring of Bankastraat cannot be met from the regular council budget, we can always call upon the budget for the International Zone. Unfortunately there are many negative aspects too. Is the building programme really necessary for the desired status of “international city of peace and justice”? Or is this slogan being used primarily as an excuse for additional building, and for building upwards? The Adviesplatform Scheveningen, the only residents association invited by the council to give a reaction, stated that
We certainly agree with this. In the Memorandum it is observed that all low-rise neighbourhoods built on sand are also a favourite with expats. But then, as cool as you please, goes on to state that expats prefer to live in apartments – and we know from previous experience that when the alderman says “apartments” he means tower blocks. In our neighbourhood for example, the council considers the present site of the police headquarters on Burgemeester Patijnlaan to be an ideal spot for new development. If high-rise building should be realized on this site it will have an extremely adverse affect on our living environment. It now appears that even the height of the tower block in the De Monchyplein complex is in practice already contentious, considering the open space in front of it has become an unpleasant wind trap. Two other building locations among those identified by the council immediately border our neighbourhood: the Peace Palace and the current site of Europol. The Memorandum states very diplomatically that “it is important to engender support among the inhabitants” because of course it is the intention that the Hagenaars welcome all these expats with open arms. However at the same time the Municipal Executive makes it very clear that there will be no substantial opportunity for comment. Does the Executive not realize that this is doing a disservice to Hague hospitality? Eveline Blitz, August 2008 |
|
||||
|
Conversion plans LTO Prinsevinkenpark Presentation of plans Prinsevinkenpark projectat B+M Architects Bureau, Laan van der Meerdervoort 21 April 2009 Minutes: Present: Messrs. de Greef, Wijenberg and Kloppenberg of B+M architects; Messrs. Tim Dike and Enno Thedinga and Mrs. Victoria Mendes de Leon (minutes) of A&W urban planning working party. The owner of the former LTO building is “de Prins van Archipel bv”.
The project developer’s initial idea was to renovate both existing buildings but later it was decided to demolish the sixties building and rebuild. The plans of the new design were presented. In the new scheme the two parts are separate. The modern building on the left has been designed to look as if it is two, which is more in keeping with surrounding properties. The height will remain the same: four storeys and a set back roof-storey. The roof will be uncluttered as far as possible but it is unknown what will happen to the antenna: the developers will try it get it removed. The five apartments in the period property have all been sold and will be occupied by the end of the year. Agreements have been made with the cemetery manager concerning the columbarium wall containing niches he recently erected. Mr. de Greef is confident that the agreements will be met. There is little Mr. de Greef can do legally because of a so-called “chain clause” limiting the present buyer's freedom to act as the owner of the land and he is obliged to include the same clause in a contract with a future buyer. The project plans were first submitted to the city planner and then to the council’s building inspectorate in mid-April. They are currently being assessed on their compliance with planning norms. The inspectorate’s decision is expected in one to two months. Tim Dike suggested publicizing the project on the Archipel&Willemspark Residents Association’s website and organizing an information evening in ‘t Klokhuis Community Centre. The developers thought this was a good idea but were not sure at which stage this should happen. It was agreed they would get in touch about the information evening when they are further along with the plans. Our overall impression of the project was positive. It looks fine, is an attractive contemporary design but not “too” modern. Tim noted that he would have preferred it if the building was less high: an opinion generally shared. But it appears that this would not be financially viable because a certain number of apartments have to be sold to cover costs. Mr. de Greef will contact our working party when he has heard from the council. VMdL, 23 April 2009
|
|
||||
24 May 2008 – Just a few finishing touches and the transformation of the premises that used to be Tante Sjaan’s flower stall will be complete. Compares well with blueprint. in A&W underway
93 Bankastraat: narrowest house in Archipelbuurt 1 September 2006 - There are well-advanced plans to convert the single storey makeshift premises – which was once a flower-stall – sandwiched between the Wineshopper at 93a Bankastraat and Albert Heijn into a residential property with two upper storeys. The Residents Association Archipel/ Willemspark is positive about the project as the drawings show that the design of the new building will be in keeping with the architectural style of the adjacent properties.
|
|
||||
|
New LEI – a sight for sore eyes? The new Landbouw Economisch Instituut - LEI (Agricultural Economic Institute) at Alexanderveld 5 will be officially opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Gerda Verburg on 11 June. The LEI was until recently housed in the NIBC building opposite the Vredespaleis. Its new premises will be the final piece in the Bofill urban redevelopment project.
Splendid new building After all the drama surrounding the initial plans for the project, the realization of this shiny new building has been achieved with the minimum of fuss. Alexanderplein and Burg. Marijnenlaan, have benefited too and are now easier on the eye and have a finished air and proper pavements and parking bays. Hopefully, all will be softened with the planting of some greenery, which should not pose a problem for an agricultural institute. It only remains to congratulate the employees of the LEI on their new accommodation and to hope that the edifice will indeed add allure to the inner and outer ‘plein’ for years to come. According to reports, the neighbours will shortly be invited to an Open Dag, and will then be able to reassure us on this score. AK (Auke vd Kooi) A&W Community Newspaper - June 2008 Construction of the LEI nearing completion
|
|
||||
29 March 2010 - The DPI-groep in Haarlem sent us the following announcement on behalf of Philip van Wijk about the building plans for Sumatrastraat. 
The former office building consists of two parts; on the left a “modern” building from the 1960s and on the right a typical period property adjoining other houses in Prinsevinkenpark. 
Redevelopment of the premises (right: old section nos.17-18; left: more modern section no. 19) will be carried out in two phases. A building permit was recently issued for the conversion of the old part into five apartments. The sale of these apartments started in July and building work will commence in September. 
4 April 2008 - Although the 2008 February deadline was not met the work on the