Kairos sells new CanalCity SME park to citydev.brussels

Brussels, April 16, 2024 - citydev.brussels and private developer Kairos, a subsidiary of real estate developer BAM Belgium, have reached an agreement on the sale of an SME park on the Deleers site in Anderlecht. citydev.brussels will manage and lease its site - with 11 production studios of 350 to 800 m², 26 parking spaces and 60 bicycle stands - under the name CanalCity.

CanalCity: a place to live, work and learn

The site is located in Anderlecht on the Brussels-Charleroi Canal at the level of the bridge on Avenue Paapsem, more precisely between Rue Henri Deleers, Rue Walcourt and Quai Biestebroek. It is colored as an enterprise zone in an urban environment (OGSO).

Private developer Kairos plans to revitalize the former industry site with an ambitious mixed-use project. The project, under construction since May 2023, consists of 4 residential buildings with 147 homes, 16 production units, 5 commercial spaces, a nursery and 2 schools. It has had its planning permission since 2022 and is one of the largest ever licensed projects in the Brussels Region.

Once the works are finished (late 2025 - early 2026), the project and the neighborhood should grow into a vibrant avant-garde neighborhood where you can live, work and learn.

citydev.brussels has long been interested in the abandoned industry site. It had also already gone to the former owner and the neighboring site with ideas to redevelop the area. Meanwhile, Kairos bought the land. The promoter soon knocked on the door of citydev.brussels with a proposal to buy over the SME park. The two sat around the table so that citydev.brussels could share its expertise on the subject with Kairos. On Friday, April 12, citydev.brussels and Kairos reached an agreement and signed a sales contract for this program of just under 6,000 m²: 11 workshops for production activities of 350 to 800 m², 26 parking spaces and 60 bicycle stands. The whole operation costs 14,273,700 euros excluding VAT. Engaging with a private partner in such a way is fairly new for citydev.brussels. It is a great opportunity to work together, to the benefit of both parties. The private promoter/developer is assured of its income, and citydev.brussels has a brand new SME park. This allows it to respond to the still very high demand for SME spaces on the Brussels market. citydev.brussels has previously worked in this way with the private developer Futurn. From it, it bought an SME park at NorthCity in Haren. In addition, 23 housing units will be sold under the terms of citydev.brussels through urban development charges.

"Supporting SMEs and artisans and encouraging local production! In this double dynamic, this purchase fits perfectly. In the last 5 years, citydev.brussels has doubled the surface area where it can host production activities. Accommodating production is a major challenge for our region. It does, however, give us a lot. It supports the Brussels economy, creates jobs that cannot be relocated, and helps decarbonize our economy. I am very happy and can hardly wait to see the end result!" said the State Secretary for Economic Transition.

Benjamin Cadranel, administrator general of citydev.brussels: "With the purchase of part of this project, we are rolling out the Canal Plan and moving another step closer to the 15-minute city. Indeed, CanalCity combines several essential functions on one site: a school, affordable housing and manufacturing activities. These should also complement each other harmoniously and efficiently."

Wim Straetmans, Managing Director at BAM Belgium: "This is a unique inner-city project in the Brussels canal zone where learning, living and working come together. We are very pleased with this agreement because citydev.brussels will create many new jobs in the city."