Leuven (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Heavy rain on August 1, 2024 caused flooding and a sinkhole in Parisstraat severely impacting local businesses. Restaurants like Sud Sud Bistro reported significant losses and seek additional city support.
On August 1, 2024 there was a lot of rain in the Parisstraat area. This heavy rain caused serious problems especially for local businesses like restaurants and catering services. The rain made the streets flood which broke a water pipe. The broken pipe created a sinkhole making things even worse. Due to the sinkhole and damaged roads the authorities partially closed Parisstraat to ensure public safety which directly impacted many catering businesses especially those that relied on outdoor seating. These businesses were not allowed to set up their terraces likely hurting their operations and customer flow during a busy time. It has been said that this situation highlighted how vulnerable city infrastructure is to extreme weather events and significantly affected the local economy particularly for businesses that depend on foot traffic and outdoor seating.
How are Leuven’s local businesses coping with Sinkhole impacts?
Cathy Jordens from Sud Sud Bistro shared that they couldn’t set up their outdoor seating because of the sinkhole and water got into their basement and kitchen. They had to throw away a lot of food, lost power and had a lot of cleaning to do. At first there were worries that the street would be closed for months which would mean big losses for local businesses during the summer. However the city acted quickly and hired a contractor to make repairs. Some outdoor areas can open again soon and Cathy appreciates the city’s quick response and communication. She mentioned that their sales have dropped by half. They just hope for good weather to help make up for the losses.
Cathy Jordens and other local eateries are seeking extra support from the city due to the impact of the sinkhole on their businesses. Although the city has waived terrace fees for a year they desire more assistance mentioning a “nuisance premium” and potential claims against the water company as possible avenues for compensation. Alderman Dirk Vansina acknowledged that the fee waiver won’t fully cover their losses but is the best the city can offer advising businesses to explore insurance options. He also noted that the nuisance premium is outside the city’s control. Vansina assured that the repairs would be thorough with no immediate issues expected and mentioned future plans to completely renovate the Parijsstraat which hasn’t been updated in over two decades potentially revitalizing the area.
