Gloeilampplantsoen in Eindhoven sold to owner Strijp-T
An illustration by Geva BV of Strijp-T, with the Gloeilampplantsoen in the foreground. Here, all the old paths and the pond are drawn. This is how it could look now that Geva BV is the owner again. © Strijp-T
The Gloeilampplantsoen has been sold to Geva BV, the owner of the Strijp-T complex. This seems to mark the end of the long-standing battle between the municipality of Eindhoven and the Hague businessman Atom Zhou. Geva BV will now create a plan to restore the old path pattern with a pond in the shape of a light bulb.
Michel Theeuwen 22-05-19
According to Boudie Hoogedeure from Strijp-T/Geva BV, this will be done in consultation with the municipality, the Henri van Abbe Foundation, Trefpunt Groen Eindhoven, and the residents. "It will definitely serve as a green buffer between Strijp-S and T. For us, it's a bit like our front yard. We don't know exactly how it will look yet. But having a pond is definitely high on the wish list."
Zhou doesn't want to reveal much about the issue, except that it was 'months ago' when the agreement was made. However, he does mention that the sale is 'not completely finalized yet'. "There are still some details to work out," said the resident of The Hague. Hoogedeure is under the impression that everything is settled; the signatures have been put down. The transfer of ownership has been disclosed by the City Council in a letter to the municipal council. The transaction has not been registered in the land registry yet, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything, as it often happens later.
In the short term, the site will be cleared of the building materials that a tenant of Zhou had stored there, the municipality says. Whether the fence will also be removed soon and the site will be accessible again, Hoogedeure cannot say yet. "The most important thing now is that we as neighbors regain control over this green area," he says.
The fence around the Gloeilampplantsoen at the Beukenlaan/Achtseweg Zuid in the municipality of Eindhoven is allowed to remain in place following a court ruling. © Michel Theeuwen
Zhou bought the area out of bankruptcy from one of Roger Lips' BVs for just over three hundred thousand euros. Hoogedeure does not want to disclose what Geva BV paid.
The municipality and Zhou mainly argued about the fact that the businessman from The Hague was not allowed to build there. He had bought the land for that purpose, but the municipality changed the function to green in the new zoning plan. Zhou lost several lawsuits. However, he did win the case regarding the installation of a fence.
The Gloeilampplantsoen at the Beukenlaan/Achtseweg Zuid in 1960. With the then not yet fully completed buildings of Strijp-T in the background. © Eindhoven in Beeld
Earlier, the entrepreneur refused to sell the land; he felt wronged and misled by the municipality. They had allegedly indicated before the purchase that construction on a part of the park was possible. However, after Zhou had purchased the overgrown piece of land, suddenly it was no longer allowed. Hence his opposition to the new zoning plan. The tenant of the land started clearing greenery in 2016 and began constructing work paths in 2017. Both times, the municipality halted the activities. In the latter case, the court ruled that it was rightfully done.
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