81 new homes in the Geerstraat office building
A vacant office building on Geerstraat is set to be repurposed as a residential complex. The municipality of Heerlen and Wonen Limburg have signed an agreement to this effect.
The former ING office building will be converted into 81 new homes. This will allow more people to live in the city center, making it a livelier place.
What kind of homes will be built?
- 59 public housing units
- 22 rental apartments in the mid-range rental market
The homes are in a great location. They’re close to downtown and the train station. An empty building is being put to good use again.
When will construction begin?
At this point, the parties have only a letter of intent. This means that we intend to continue working on the plan together. The current drawing is just a preliminary sketch.
In the coming period, we will further develop the plan. We will also be talking with local residents. If everything goes according to plan, construction will begin in mid-2027.
Alderman Marco Peters the importance of this development:
"A major step forward for our housing initiative! Together with Wonen Limburg, we are creating sustainable and affordable housing. This will strengthen our downtown area. We are also improving the entrance to the downtown area."
From office building to residential units
The office building is undergoing a complete transformation. Rufa Lieben – van Kan of Wonen Limburg says: "What makes this project special is that we’re using the existing building. We’re turning it into a sustainable residential building that actually looks like a residential building."
They’re not just renovating the interior. The exterior and the surrounding grounds are also changing. Lieben continues: “We’re renovating the facades. Part of it will have a green facade. This gives it a modern look. And it helps combat heat stress. We’re creating as much green space as possible around the building. This creates a pleasant living environment, close to downtown and all amenities.”