Deurne (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Arena social housing estate in Deurne is being rebuilt over 7–8 years. The Arenaplein redesign will be finished by spring 2026. Jansens said plans were adjusted after resident concerns.
The Arena social housing estate in Deurne, a district in the city of Antwerp, Belgium, is getting a major makeover. According to the officials, over the next 7 to 8 years, the worn-down area will be transformed into a more modern and livable place.
The project has already started with the demolition of the neighbourhood swimming pool last year. The first phase focuses on redesigning the Arenaplein into a triangular square with lots of green space and areas for people to gather. There will be a basketball court, a football field, and plenty of room.
All the parking spaces above ground will be moved to one spot along Muggenberglei. The mobile recycling centre will stay, and 2 new sorting streets will be added to help people recycle properly. The work on the square is expected to be finished by spring 2026.
Will the Arena district makeover in Deurne meet community needs?
According to the officials, the old buildings are in bad shape and will be torn down and replaced with new, modern homes that are energy-efficient, comfortable, and accessible. They mentioned that this big renovation is a response to problems cities are facing, like climate change, changing populations, and the need for good, affordable housing.
The city started the project by making some small repairs to the “Torentjes,” the tall buildings in the social housing area. These repairs are just temporary, to fix the most urgent problems like cracks, safety issues, and heating problems.
The “Torentjes” won’t be torn down right away, but they will be demolished later on in the project. The other social housing buildings in the area are in worse shape and will be demolished sooner. These buildings will be replaced with new, modern homes.
The city is rebuilding the Arena district, and they promise to replace every old social housing unit with a new one. But some people who live in the area are unhappy with the plans. They didn’t like the plan to build a very tall building in the middle of the public space.
They worried that the tall building would block sunlight, make the area feel crowded, and change the look of the neighbourhood. The city listened to the people’s concerns and changed parts of the plan to make it better for the community.
“We listened to the concerns of the neighbourhood,”
Says Jansens.
“We are now looking with architects to see if we can provide extra homes in the new social housing blocks. That way, that tower doesn’t have to be added. We will know more about that by June, but I am optimistic that that large residential tower won’t come.”
