The inner city of Punda, with its 200-year-old buildings, is in need of re-urbanization and some serious image improvement. If this can be done in most European, Central and South American cities, why not revitalize the re-urbanization possibilities of the four sections of which Willemstad consists, Punda, Otrobanda, Scharloo and Pietermaai, with Pietermaai as the successful starting point. Living and working in the city center that was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997, should be a dream come true. Or is it?
TEXT JOSEFINA DE LIMA AND GONNEKE VAN DEN KIEBOOM
Inner city heritage vis a vis Economic Gain
Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the inner city and the restoration of its historic buildings by investors. N.V. Stadsherstel Willemstad has played an integral role in restoring these old buildings and making this re-birth possible. Established in 1991, N.V. Stadsherstel Willemstad has been set up as a business enterprise, making use of public and private funds. Stadsherstel’s mission is to buy, restore and rent or sell the historic buildings in the inner city limits of Willemstad as offices, retail venues, cafes, restaurants, bars or as family homes. Restored properties are often rented out to commercial institutions, such as banks and law offices and/or as dwellings. Stadsherstel works in close cooperation with its colleague organization, Stichting Monumentenzorg Curaçao. The latter being a non-profit organization founded in 1954, it is the oldest organization active in the field of the preservation of monuments on the island of Curaçao. N.V. Stadsherstel envisions bringing families back into the inner city.
Punda and Otrobanda are targeted for restorations for family dwellings and commercial activities. Young professionals, empty nesters, pensioners and even the working families with children could be accommodated there. Together with other members of the monuments platform (Monumentenraad, Stichting Monumentenzorg, Monumentenfonds, Fundashon Pro Monumento and the government), Stadsherstel advocates the preservation of the World Heritage status and the sustainable innovation of the future of monumental Willemstad.
Argument for the gentrification of the inner city of Willemstad
The Historic Area of Willemstad is a European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates the organic growth of a multicultural community over three centuries and preserves, to a high degree, significant elements of the many strands that came together to create it. The urban structure and architecture of this area are both authentic examples of colonial town planning and the architecture of the period of Dutch expansion. There is also Art Deco (a very visual style) architecture to some buildings. These aspects should appeal to all levels of society. This could facilitate gentrification, through restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property, by the middle-class or affluent toward entrepreneurial and creative residents. Gentrification is typically the result of investment in a shift in the urban community by the real estate development businesses, local government, or community activists, and can often spur economic development, attract business, and lower crime rates. In addition to these potential benefits, gentrification can lead to re-urbanization.
Can our inner city render an appeal and be gentrified? Marcel Dennert, director N.V. Stadsherstel Willemstad, offers his insight. “Yes, one of the most recent projects of Stadsherstel (in cooperation with Stichting Monumentenzorg) is the restoration of Fleur de Marie, which is the area north of Bargestraat. The Kingdom of the Netherlands has also contributed in funding most of the infrastructure. Bario Fleur de Marie is an example of integrated city improvement where we focused on social interaction between neighbors, solving traffic and parking issues and incorporated green zones and playground areas. In Fleur de Marie, we first focused on accessibility and parking; the majority of the Scharloo properties have access with parking behind them, which is quite adequate. In Fleur de Marie this was not the case. Indeed this whole issue of parking versus place of work or living quarters needs attention. Here on Curaçao, we often expect parking spots to be right in front of the office. We have to start changing that way of thinking. Most cities around the world solve the parking situation by having (paid) parking nicely dispersed around the city. You park and walk a little bit. Naturally our weather is slightly different and therefore, we do need to make sure to provide some sun-sheltered places. It is also a mindset change. Our plan is to integrate living and working. In Punda, this will mean that the merchants, real estate owners and housing organizations will start open discussions on rethinking the city center. We don’t compete between the areas but we are looking for crossover functions to re-energize the historical function of inner city life in a sustainable way that suits our eco-era. However, action needs to take place!”
Back to the Future
N.V. Stadsherstel Willemstad began its own history 23 years ago with the restoration of their first building. The building is located at No. 55 Scharlooweg, the former home of George Maduro. It was built in 1873 for the Senior family and sold to the Maduro family in 1915. The Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands now occupies it. Dennert explains, “There are a significant number of newer square meters available outside the Inner City, buildings that were often built with much lower costs and therefore often lower quality. In times of current economic hardship, tenants tend to look at lowering their costs, amongst which the cost of rent of their offices/workspace. This makes it very challenging right now for us, monument organizations. It is very difficult to compete with the available space outside of town. Through promotion and lowering our rents to levels that are (almost) below market, we are (barely) able to continue to survive. Large scale restoration projects are being put on the back burner for now, unfortunately.”
N.V. Stadsherstel Willemstad began its own history 23 years ago with the restoration of their first building. The building is located at No. 55 Scharlooweg, the former home of George Maduro.
Michael Porter, Harvard Business School on Initiatives for an Inner City, has said that economic empowerment zones and financial incentives do not necessarily make a difference. That’s because it’s much easier to say, “we’ll give you a cash break” than actually fixing the problem. It’s the fundamentals that are important: whether there’s decent infrastructure or you’re in a good location. However, giving someone a financial incentive doesn’t just override the fundamentals. Revenue is the oxygen of business. Without revenue, nothing happens.
When asked for his point of view for the future of our inner city, Dennert answers, “As Unesco World Heritage City, we have an obligation to manage and plan the sustainability of our status as such. Apart from this obligation, we should elevate this plan to a broadly supported document and management structure that can really be used. All parties involved in and benefiting from our monumental heritage, including the government, are working together in the development of the Willemstad City Heritage Management Plan 2014 – 2019, as we speak. This plan provides clear and practical guidelines for further cooperation between all stakeholders, conserving and preserving this very important status, while stimulating future development. Our monumental inner city is a great economic asset that should inspire innovation and sustainable growth for both businesses and homes. This is a joint venture, as we, the new land Curaçao, the general public and non-governmental organizations alike need to embrace our monuments as the proud fundamentals on which we build our (international) future.”
“Most cities share similar broad objectives — to generate vibrant economies, create good jobs, provide a safe and secure environment for its residents, deliver good public services, whether it is waste disposal, clean and reliable water, or public transport; and to make all these individual pieces work, to have effective governance so that the system as a whole functions well.”
LEE HSIEN LOONG Prime Minister Singapore and of the World Cities Summit 2012
For more information, please contact: N.V. Stadsherstel Willemstad | Werfstraat 6, Scharloo Abou | +599 9 462 79 75 | info@stadsherstel.com |www.stadsherstel.com