(Belga) A group of a few dozen people announced that since Friday evening they have been occupying buildings in the Biestebroeck basin, on the edge of the canal in Cureghem, slated for destruction for the needs of the A’Rive real estate project (formerly Key West) , led by the Immobel/BPI consortium.
Most of the activists have barricaded themselves inside, while a small gathering stands outside the premises. A few banners with messages like “No to the A’Rive project” were hung on a facade. There is talk of building 524 housing units (including an 84-metre high tower) and 383 parking spaces. Inter Environnement Bruxelles (IEB) lodged an appeal in May last year once morest the planning permit. The activists who took possession of the premises believe that it is a ZAD (Zone To Defend). They hope to succeed in blocking the project, which they believe will lead to gentrification of the edges of the Brussels canal. They denounce the height of the advertised prices per square meter of apartments, while the Cureghem district is one of the poorest in the region. According to them, this project will in no way meet the many needs of local residents. A group had already occupied the premises on November 19, 2021 in the name of these same principles. He had been expelled on December 22 on the basis of a judicial order obtained by unilateral request lodged with the Anderlecht justice of the peace. (Belga)