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Owner wants STIB to move bus stop in front of his home

17:52 13/12/2019

A Brussels resident wants the city’s transport authority to move a bus stop in front of his stately art nouveau home in Schaerbeek.

Homeowner Augustin Siaens purchased the Saint-Cyr house, as it is called, in 2013 and moved into the listed monument recently after six years of renovation works.

Rather than the bus stop itself, it’s the frequency of the many buses that halt in front of his home (pictured on the left) that has irked Siaens. Pointing out that the building’s façade is well-known, Siaens told public broadcaster RTBF: “A lot of tourists stand on the opposite side of the street to get a look at the house. Every two minutes their guide has to stop talking because a bus has stopped right in front of the façade,” he explained. “I think that’s said for the image of Brussels.”

A spokesperson for STIB said the public transport company had indeed received a request from Siaens to move the stop. “There have been long and extensive discussions about the location of the stop in the past, but we can’t really move the bus shelter,” said spokesperson Guy Sablon, adding that there are many houses with garages further down the street.

“When the neighbourhood was redeveloped, the bus stop was placed so that the view of the house would remain as optimal as possible,” Sablon added. 

Photo courtesy Google Maps

Written by Linda A. Thompson

Comments

shirley.foxcastle

"that's said" or "that's sad"?

The pollution can't be doing the facade much good either and the vibrations from buses. St Cyr was the architect, I believe. Wonderful piece of art nouveau!

Dec 17, 2019 14:09