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Ideas sought for two new urban renewal projects in Marolles

19:21 14/03/2020

The City of Brussels has released an extra half a million euros to make improvements to quality of life in the Marolles district.

It has launched two calls for projects as part of a bigger initiative, Made in Marolles, a €27 million spending plan for the working class neighbourhood that began in 2018.

The extra money will go towards the creation of a community restaurant or sustainable food store - a social enterprise - which will receive up to €370,000 in funding.

The second project is seeking ideas for how to improve public space in the neighbourhood to make it more pleasant for locals. About €120,000 has been allocated to this part of the initiative.

The City of Brussels is asking candidates to come forward. A jury composed of city hall officials, local residents and representatives from neighbourhood associations will decide which projects will get the money.

Made in Marolles has so far funded new green spaces, 33 new homes, a creche and the renovation of the Place du Jeu de Balle, plus extra spending on cleanliness and training opportunities for young unemployed residents.

"You might sometimes think that the Marolles district has become a gentrified neighbourhood," Brussels mayor Philippe Close said when the project launched two years ago. "But it's not the case. Scratch the surface and there are real pockets of poverty that we must act upon."

Written by The Bulletin