Coronmeuse Eco-district

Creation of new green areas

The Coronmeuse Eco-district aims to be the largest eco-district in Wallonia and is intended to contribute to the long-term ambitions of Liège to become an eco-friendly city. It aims to convert the disctirct into an innovative, low-traffic and eco-friendly neighbourhood where living, working and relaxing go hand in hand (Ref. 12, 13, 14). "As part of the Liège application to organize an international exhibition in 2017, an exceptional site had been chosen to host the Expo: the Coronmeuse peninsula. As part of the design of the real estate project intended to host the Expo, an idea emerged: to reconvert the buildings constructed for the 3 months of festivities into a sustainable and benchmark eco-district. Despite a very successful campaign in terms of citizen mobilization, a large-scale international promotion and a high-quality dossier, Liège was not selected to organize this Expo 2017. The day after the verdict (November 22, 2012), a major decision was taken by the authorities of the City of Liège: that of continuing the competitive dialogue procedure initiated with a view to developing the Coronmeuse site into an eco-district. The Coronmeuse eco-district is therefore a legacy of Liège's candidacy for Expo 2017" (Ref. 12).

"The 4 hectare Astrid Park will be completely renovated and will accommodate new sports facilities such as an athletics track and a Finnish track. The park will also house playgrounds as well as rest areas with fountains and bodies of water. The Équerre building, in the heart of the park, will be completely renovated and refurbished to house a nursery, a neighborhood house as well as changing rooms and toilets for people coming to play sports in the park. In addition, the facade and the roof of the Grand Palais (5000 m²) will be restored. And glass alcoves will let in the light. The pavilion of over 600 m² at the entrance to the park will be occupied by an organic market, an organic bookstore and restaurants. The roof of the pavilion will be a city vegetable garden that will supply the organic market. The Grand Palais will be transformed into a primary school with a multi-purpose sports hall… the banks of the basin and the Meuse will also be thoroughly renovated. There will be pontoons and an esplanade at the water's edge and the basin/dock will become a marina with around a hundred berths and a harbor master's office with catering. Along the water will be built housing-workshops. Two brand new pedestrian bridges will link Coronmeuse to the Saint-Léonard district. The site will also have its specific tram stop. All public works as well as public infrastructure will be designed, built and financed by the consortium" (Ref. 14). The eco-district will prioritize local shops selling local products and new housing will be built under construction HQE (low energy and passive) (Ref. 12). The site will also reserve spaces for a hotel, an assisted living facility, a rest and care home, two nurseries, a neighborhood center, town vegetable gardens, public parking places and a bicycle repair shop. On the site, car traffic will only be authorized in a few places. All parking spaces will be underground" (Ref. 14, 2020). Regarding the status of the project: Liege was a candidate city for the 2017 Expo, but the winning candidate was Astana, Kazakhstan, so the Liege plan was not be implemented in the framework of the Expo development. (The expo's theme is "Future Energy", and aims to create a global debate between countries, nongovernmental organizations, companies and the general public on the crucial question: "how do we ensure safe and sustainable access to energy for all while reducing CO2 emissions?") (Ref. 2). However, "The day after the verdict (November 22, 2012), a major decision was taken by the authorities of the City of Liège: that of continuing the competitive dialogue procedure initiated with a view to developing the Coronmeuse site into an eco-district... The provisional schedule plans to start work in 2020" (Ref. 12).

• Private sector/Corporate/Company
• Citizens or community groups