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Demolition controversy over US embassy's move to Watermael-Boitsfort
Local and regional officials have opposed a plan by the American embassy to demolish a disused office block in the leafy Brussels suburb of Watermael-Boitsfort and build a new embassy there from scratch.
The embassy plans to move to the site of the Royale Belge, an iconic 1970 office building designed by architects Pierre Dufau and René Stapels on the Boulevard du Souverain, near the border with Ixelles.
The building was previously the headquarters of Axa bank, which has since moved to the Marnix building between Trône and Porte de Namur - a short distance from the US embassy's current site on Boulevard du Régent.
According to RTL, the embassy wants to demolish the former Axa building because it is not fit for use. It has a poor energy rating, an underground car park that presents a security risk, and at 65,000m², the office space is three times too large for the embassy's 380 members of staff.
Officials at Watermael-Boitsfort town hall and the Brussels region have begun proceedings to apply for the building and its gardens to become listed property. They say any renovations to the site must maintain the building's appearance and respect its heritage. Speaking to RTL, mayor Olivier Deleuze said of the Americans: "They put a man on the moon - they can find a solution to this."
Comments
Go Boitsfort! List it!
So if the building is not fit for use because it has a poor energy rating, its garage is a security risk, and the office space is three times too large, why on earth did they decide to move there? Not to mention that it's inconveniently located far from the city center!
Larry they are moving because they think it's a cheaper way to get a large space and effect some Modern monstrosity I actually love some of those buildings along there. Also the site is connected to tram service so doesn't matter it's not in town
Speaking to RTL, mayor Olivier Deleuze said of the Americans: "They put a man on the moon - they can find a solution to this."
The mayor is Ecolo and imo some of his attitude is probably a result of the current US president's anti-environmental and other objectionable policies. After all, further up the same road, where it is called Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, a prominent home was recently demolished to make way for a whole new embassy: http://www.politico.eu/article/empire-building-in-brussels-persian-gulf-...