Municipality Plans to Replace Haddingestraat Parking Garage with Family Homes
You can join the city’s discussion on future plans for the garage site at the Forum event on November 8, from 13:00 to 14:00, and share your vision for a safer, greener city centre.
The Haddingestraat parking garage near Vismarkt in Groningen is set to close and be demolished in early 2025, making way for around 50 family homes in the city center. This transformation is part of the municipality’s goal to reduce car traffic, increase greenery, and create safer, family-friendly spaces within the heart of Groningen. The initiative aims to diversify the city centre’s population, where single-person households and student housing currently dominate.
The upcoming redevelopment will be guided through a community design competition, inviting developers and architects to propose plans for the new housing units and public spaces. This competition will follow a "good Groningen custom" of public involvement, where residents can vote on their preferred plans. The municipality envisions the area’s redesign to include improved pedestrian and cycling access, enhanced greenery, and better overall safety.
To engage the public, the municipality is hosting a free event on November 8 at the Rabo Studio in the Forum, from 13:00 to 14:00. Urban planner Jaco Kalfsbeek and architect Jan Nauta of Studio Nauta will present possible design ideas and discuss themes for the site’s redevelopment. Attendees are encouraged to share their preferences and suggest new ideas to shape the area’s future use. The meeting will also address temporary plans for the space, potentially as a bicycle parking facility, during the interim period from demolition to construction.
This project aligns with the city’s larger goals of creating more family-oriented housing, reducing vehicle reliance in central areas, and cultivating inviting green spaces, adding value to the daily lives of Groningen’s residents.