Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper): The Ragheno site in Mechelen, covering 120 hectares, will become Marcels Garden. Developer MG Real Estate is cleaning the soil for a marina. Alderman Greet Geypen highlighted its importance for the community.
The Ragheno site in Mechelen, which is about 120 hectares, will be changed in the next few years. It is located southeast of the Mechelen train station and is near the Leuvensesteenweg road, Hanswikvaart canal, and Hanswikbeek stream. This old industrial area will be turned into a mixed-use urban district. The city wants to create a lively and sustainable community with homes, shops, offices, and public spaces, focusing on green areas and modern transport options.
What are the plans for Mechelen’s 120-hectare Ragheno site?
It has been said that an important part of the new plan for the Ragheno site is making it easy to get to Mechelen’s train station, so people can use public transport, ride bikes, or walk easily. The project will also be good for the environment, with energy-efficient buildings, green spaces, and eco-friendly transport options. The Ragheno site is expected to become an important area in Mechelen, helping the city grow and improving life while considering environmental and social goals.
A master plan and detailed plan for the Ragheno site were created during the last administration. The project officially started on 8th October. Developer MG Real Estate has initiated soil cleanup to prepare for constructing a new marina. Greet Geypen, the alderman for Urban Development, stated, “Starting the soil cleanup at the Ragheno site is a significant step forward, as it marks the first real action in the development. The new marina will be a place for people to gather and will bring new life to this part of the city.”
The new area in the city will be named Marcels Garden, honoring monk Benedictus Marcelis, the first to sail on the Leuven-Dijle canal. To improve traffic on the canal, the Vlaamse Waterweg plans to build a 3,850-square-meter marina as part of the Ragheno site development, which covers 5.6 hectares of underused and polluted land. Alongside the marina, there will be an 11-hectare public park with walking and biking paths connecting to the Mechelen – Nekkerspoel station. The project, led by MG Real Estate, will take years to complete, but the cleanup phase is expected to take 3 to 4 months before construction can begin.
