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Brussels’ Place Jourdan could become car-free by 2016
Place Jourdan in the capital’s EU quarter could be turned into a car-free square by 2016, according to Vincent De Wolf, the mayor of the Etterbeek commune. Wolf has launched a public inquiry to discuss his administration’s proposals for transforming the popular square.
If it gets planning approval, the council plans to turn the square into a car-free open space with fountains and trees, similar to Flagey in Ixelles. It also wants to extend restaurant and café terraces and build a modern pavilion for the famous Maison Antoine frituur, which is located on the square.
The main opposition comes from businesses that are afraid that customers will stay away if there is nowhere to park. The council has plans to divert traffic to a little-used underground car park nearby on Maalbeeklaan.
The commune had submitted a proposal to make the square car-free some 10 years ago, but it ran into various problems and was eventually abandoned. The latest Jourdan plan comes soon after Brussels City announced an ambitious project to ban cars from Beursplein and possibly also the Zavel square in the antique district.
It appears that leaders are considering a new direction for transport and pedestrians, though it is far too early to say whether any of the plans will be realised.
photo by Mike Procario/flickr
Comments
What is even more ridiculous than this plan by the Commune to "improve" the square, is the writer of this article who insists on using the Flemish equivalents in an English language article for works known almost exclusively in Brussels as French (frituur and Zavel Square). In this second reference (Zavel), I would not have figured out it was the Sablon had he not also mentioned the antique [SIC] district (ed note: should have been 'antiques district')!
Please Bulletin, let's just drop this nonsense. The EN language speakers who read you don't care about the long-running and self-defeating language row in Belgium. We call the Sablon the Sablon because that is how 99% of people (Flemish speakers included) in Brussels call it. What exactly are you trying to prove by calling it the Zavel Square? Is this just because the owners of The Bulletin happen to be Flemish? This sounds like the typical argument, "My Mercedes is bigger than your Mercedes".....
indeed, Zavel is ridiculous and was obviously done to (try to) make a point.
but wouldn't a car-free Sablon be great?!
but wouldn't a car-free Sablon be great?!
Wow, GELLIS, for someone who doesn't care about the language row you certainly seem quite put out by the use of Flemish! The fact is that places have two names as it's a bilingual city - why shouldn't both names be used equally? 'Expat' doesn't usually denote unintelligent or linguistically challenged, so surely the readership can cope with some Flemish words as well as French? Live and let live and all that - integration should be encouraged.
It is a pity that you are digressing from the topic... Any plans to have car-free places in the city should be welcome to improve air quality if nothing else! I'm fed up with people trying to run me over all time and indeed the city works purely in the interest of car drivers and not of cyclists, pedestrians or people using public transport. It would be so nice to walk around Jourdan without having to dodge cars in the carpark or making sure I don't get squashed at a zebra crossing.