2023-09-23 06:47:00
Applications for the resumption of the abbey district of Saint-Hubert – which includes the palace, the courtyard of Tilleuls, the former penitentiary, the arsenal and the surrounding land -, via a long lease of 30 years might be submitted until September 15 last year.
Idélux was responsible for transmitting the applications to the Régie des Bâtiments, since the federal state owns the premises.
It appears, as confirmed by the federal deputy and member of the board of directors of Idélux, Benoît Piedboeuf, that there are two candidates with different profiles. “The projects were presented at the last Idélux board meeting and everyone around the table was impressed. We unanimously voted for the intervention of the Expansion Fund so that Idélux might support the project until its term”, explains the man who is also mayor of Tintigny.
Two candidates and an investor ready to join one of the offers
Who are these two candidate investors?
– The first is a collective of local associations which offers a long-term lease (annual rental amount) of one euro per year for the Régie des Bâtiments to renovate the properties.
– The second offer concerns a group of six companies including a well-established hotelier, a brewing company, another very involved in the organization of cultural events, two construction companies and the Belgian Owl Whiskey. This consortium proposes to invest 50 million euros and a cannon oscillating between 30,000 and 40,000 euros per year, but via a long lease of 99 years instead of 30 years.
Remember that the long lease is estimated, according to the Régie, at an amount of €81,243 for the abbey palace. This canon takes into account the market value of the goods, estimated at €3,060,000 for the abbey district.
– An investor might join the second offer and put its expertise at the service of the six companies.
And now what will happen?
A jury made up of the Buildings Authority, the Region and the City of Saint-Hubert which will have two representatives (the mayor and the 1st alderman) will have to decide between the two offers that are on the table.
The small stumbling block might be the length of the lease. Either we grant a 99-year lease, as is done in France or in Louvain-la-Neuve, or we allow 30-year leases to be renewed.
What is the point in fact for investors to spend millions if they do not have a return in the (very) long term? It would really be a mistake to stay at the dock for the sake of the lease term.
Especially for a project which will put Saint-Hubert back on the map of Europe and which will be even better promoted by the restoration of the basilica.
Basilica: Idélux designated as project owner, is the contact person for Chambord
The basilica file is also progressing, assures Benoît Piedboeuf. €40 million is needed to restore the building. The delegation of project management has been entrusted to Idélux “In this way, the investors of Chambord have a single contact. We are moving towards the creation of a Regional-sponsorship task force to restore the basilica. With the project of the abbey palace, we will constitute an extraordinary center in Saint-Hubert”.
Town hall, a future cultural hub?
It appears that the transfer of services from the current city hall to the administrative center is progressing very well. The superb town hall building might then be integrated into the renovation project and accommodate a cultural center.
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