Press release, December 10, 2020

Municipality and corporations invest heavily in Röell neighborhoods (New West)

There will be a large-scale renewal operation of three "development neighborhoods" in Nieuw West: the Van Deysselbuurt, Dichtersbuurt and Couperusbuurt. The municipality of Amsterdam and the housing corporations Rochdale, Stadgenoot and Eigen Haard signed the plan yesterday for the improvement approach of these "Roëll neighborhoods".

The parties will enter into a long-term cooperation with each other to give the neighborhoods a significant boost, both physically and socially. In total, this involves investments of hundreds of millions of euros. Intensive consultation with residents is central to the further realization of the plans.

Amsterdam has 32 "development neighborhoods", which, due to the size and persistence of social and physical problems, require an intensive, integrated and multi-year approach. In the Nieuw-West district there are 19 of the 32 development neighborhoods. Three of them are called the Röellbuurt: the Van Deysselbuurt, Dichtersbuurt and Couperusbuurt. The neighborhoods are located on the long Burgemeester Röellstraat, which cuts through the district like a knife and runs from the Lambertus Zijlplein in the west to the Jan van Galenstraat metro station in the east. The anonymous traffic road will be transformed into an attractive, safe and green city street.

Better social and physical conditions

The municipality and the three housing associations agree that they will work together intensively to improve the social and physical conditions in the Röell neighborhoods. They are making a long-term commitment to carry out the operation, which will last ten years, in good coordination with the current residents. The basic principle is that they profit optimally from the developments. In the event of renovation or demolition, residents must be able to temporarily live in a different location close to them or be helped with relocation elsewhere.

The same amount of social rent, more middle segment and purchase

Investments are made in liveability, renovation and sustainability of homes, in new construction, public space and facilities for young people. In principle, the number of social rental homes will remain at least the same. By compacting, the housing stock in the middle segment and owner-occupied sector grows. This creates mixed neighborhoods, with contemporary facilities and diverse groups of residents. The houses that will be added are primarily intended for "economic risers" among the sitting tenants. If they continue to live in their neighborhood, it is good for social cohesion. They have their network there or their parents live there. The number of homes in the Röell neighborhoods will increase by about 1,250 net: from 2,450 now to about 3,700 in 2030.