Race result? New adjustments to the mobility plan are envisaged in order to hope to strengthen the attractiveness of the city center and counter the exodus of brands and customers to the periphery.
These adjustments concern, on the one hand, parking, in order to create more places near the center and the extension of free zones. On the other hand, they include, in terms of traffic, the reopening of certain roads to cars.
Same causes, same effects?
Increased pedestrianization and construction of a multifunctional project bringing together shops, horeca, housing, parking lots … The two major axes of the process of revitalization of the Caroloregian city center engaged in recent years are reminiscent of the Namur orientations.
In the Walloon capital, pedestrianization is going well. “The glass side”, meanwhile, the mixed real estate project in reflection for ten years, has not yet seen the light of day. Nevertheless, for the most optimistic, the majority of which is the ranks of the ranks, the administrative journey seems to be coming to an end, despite one or the other appeal always during.
Admittedly, comparison is not right, says the adage, but difficult not to wonder how the declarations of the first of the Carolos were interpreted on the edge of the Meuse. Stéphanie Scailquin (the committed) aldermen of regional planning, aims to be reassuring.
“In a global way, I think it is a good thing, when we see difficulties, to seek to redirect your policy to strengthen the attractiveness of your city center. But in my opinion, there are no specific fears to feed in relation to the Namur project. The two projects are not comparable in terms of situation, function, but also temporality.”
Complementarity
According to the alderman, there is a fundamental difference between left bank in Charleroi and the glass side in Namur. Indeed, the latter should not be considered “An ex-nihilo creation “. It constitutes more the reconversion of a public space connected between the train station, that of the buses and the commercial axis of the rue de Fer.
“The arrangements have been thought of in direct connection with the Rue de Fer. Somewhere, we are faced with an extension rather than installing an object where there was nothing before. The project is connected to the city center, all the public spaces are outside, turned towards the Rue de Fer. It is a project with a lot of porosity and transparency.”
In terms of commercial dynamics, the Scailquin alderman believes that the glass side aims to complete the existing offer. “”Namur now needs certain brands that are not yet present there, and which push customers to go to other cities “ The alderman also recalls that to guarantee this complementarity, a series of tags have been put, particularly with regard to the size of commercial cells, in order to avoid a leak from shops from the center to the glass side.
“In addition, it is planned in the support measures that BESIX supports the shopping communication of the Namur set and not only of its pole.”
Temps long
“Finally, it must be said that the Namur project took time and has been the subject of citizen consultations. This time has permis to take into account the difficulties encountered in other citiesbut also Largely develop the project and its functions with trade, horeca, leisure, offices, housing, etc. “insists Stéphanie Scailquin.
In Charleroi, if the mastodonte Rive Gauche has an inn a youth inn, a hotel, a few dwellings and a few offices, the main function of this monolith remains the trade, argues Stéphanie Scailquin.
“In Namur, the share of trade will be much less important. The commercial part of the multifunctional center cannot be enough for a barge who wants to shop. The complementarity with the city center is obvious”
And conclude: “I can understand that there may still be concerns. There will be some to the end. The project must be successful so that they can calm down.”