Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper): The historic building, built in 1861, was sold for restoration under Mayor De Fauw. It may become a food market or restaurant, but not a hotel. The opposition party N-VA is concerned about heritage loss.
The building, built in 1861, has a rich history. It started as a factory for cotton and wool, then became a sales point for grains in 1890. Later, the Vander Cruysse tile company took over. In recent years, it has been used for exhibitions and as a costume studio, where old costumes were restored for events like the Holy Blood Procession.
How will the sale of Bruges’ historic building impact heritage and development?
The building has been protected as an important historical site since 2009. According to De Fauw, the new owner must restore it and remove some added parts. The extra space will be given back to Bruges for the Vesten project. The building can’t be turned into a hotel or holiday home, but it could become a food market or restaurant and can have houses or offices. De Fauw believes this could bring new energy to the area around Smedenpoort.
Opposition party N-VA is upset about the sale of a building, adding to the nearly 60 million euros already planned for selling city properties. Councillor Geert Van Tieghem believes this could damage the city’s heritage. Mayor De Fauw said it’s better to sell unused buildings and mentioned that the city is also investing in new projects like the exhibition hall BRUSK.
