Hasselt

Country

Population

77,000

Renting

3 Things...

1. Cultural Heritage: Hasselt is known for its rich cultural heritage, particularly its traditional jenever (a type of gin) production. The city hosts the Jenever Museum, where visitors can learn about the history and production process of this iconic Belgian spirit. 2. Fashion Capital: Hasselt is often referred to as the "Capital of Taste" and is recognized for its vibrant fashion scene. The city hosts various fashion events and has a number of boutiques that showcase local designers, making it a hidden gem for fashion enthusiasts. 3. Green Spaces: Despite being a city, Hasselt is home to numerous parks and green spaces, including the beautiful Japanese Garden, which is one of the largest of its kind in Belgium. This serene garden features traditional Japanese landscaping, koi ponds, and a tea house, providing a tranquil escape within the urban environment.

Organisations

Architectuurwijzer

Unlisted Orgs

Population (AI)

77,000

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Last edited

Dec 19, 2024 11:02 PM

Category

Local programs

The current city administration of Hasselt, like other cities in Flanders, Belgium, focuses on addressing housing affordability and sustainability. While specific targets for affordable housing in Hasselt are not detailed in the provided sources, the broader context of Flanders' housing policies offers insight. 1. **Housing Strategies**: Cities in Flanders, including Hasselt, implement strategies such as 'City houses' and 'Starters houses' to provide affordable housing options. These programs offer discounted housing prices in exchange for long-term occupancy commitments. For example, buyers of 'City houses' must occupy the property for 20 years, and if they sell before this period, they must pay compensation to the city. 'Starters houses' are rental properties available for up to 9 years[1]. 2. **Affordable Housing Policies**: Flanders has been working on increasing affordable housing stock, but recent policy changes have introduced more stringent criteria for accessing social housing, favoring long-term residents over newcomers[5]. 3. **Sustainability Initiatives**: While not directly related to housing, Hasselt has shown commitment to sustainability through projects like 'Mobile Together Differently', which aims to reduce traffic and promote eco-friendly transportation methods[3]. These initiatives reflect Hasselt's efforts to address housing affordability and sustainability, though specific targets and more detailed programs are not provided in the available sources.

Housing Market

The current housing market in Hasselt, Belgium, reflects broader national trends with rising prices and a shortage of affordable options. Here is a summary of the key points: - **Housing Prices**: The province of Limburg, where Hasselt is located, has seen a 38.3% increase in property prices over the past decade, with an average increase of 5.7% year-over-year in Belgium as of 2024[1][5]. - **Housing Units**: Specific data on the total number of housing units in Hasselt is not available in the provided sources. - **Ownership vs. Rental**: In Belgium, 71.3% of the population owns their home, while 28.7% rent[5]. However, specific figures for Hasselt are not provided. - **Median Price per Sqm**: The average apartment price in Belgium is €2,500 per square meter as of 2024, but specific data for Hasselt is not available[5]. - **Public, Social, and Cooperative Housing**: In Belgium, social housing accounts for about 6.5% of the total housing stock, providing affordable options for low-income households. Cooperative housing is less prevalent but gaining traction[5]. Specific data for Hasselt is not provided. Given the limitations of the provided sources, detailed figures specific to Hasselt are not available. The information reflects broader national and regional trends.

Further Actors?

While specific information on Hasselt's housing crisis and potential collaborators is not directly available in the provided search results, insights from similar European contexts can offer guidance on potential collaboration partners: 1. **Academia**: Universities and research institutions like TU Delft, which is part of the European Affordable Housing Consortium (SHAPE-EU), could provide valuable expertise[2]. 2. **Real Estate Sector**: Private developers who have worked with local authorities in other cities to identify economically sustainable solutions, such as part-ownership or rent-to-buy schemes, could be potential partners[3]. 3. **Startup World**: Companies like Kodasema, which develops modular housing solutions, could offer innovative and efficient construction methods[3]. 4. **NGO Sector**: Organizations like Home Leone, which specializes in low-cost, climate-resilient homes, could provide insights into affordable housing projects[3]. 5. **Public Authorities**: Local authorities and city councils that have successfully implemented affordable housing initiatives, such as those in Lisbon, could offer strategic guidance[3]. 6. **European Initiatives**: The European Affordable Housing Consortium (SHAPE-EU) and its partners, including Housing Europe, Energy Cities, and Eurocities, could provide comprehensive support and resources for tackling housing crises[2]. These entities could serve as potential collaboration partners for addressing the housing crisis in Hasselt by leveraging their expertise and experience in affordable and sustainable housing projects.

Cooperatives

Housing cooperatives in Hasselt, Belgium, are part of a broader movement in Flanders to provide affordable and high-quality housing. These cooperatives are characterized by residents owning shares in the cooperative society, which owns the entire building, and having a right of residence rather than traditional ownership[1]. In Hasselt, there are no specific details on housing cooperatives, but the city has been involved in broader initiatives such as the Housing First approach, which focuses on providing rapid access to permanent housing and intensive support for homeless people with complex needs[2]. At the European level, initiatives like the European Affordable Housing Consortium aim to support affordable housing providers, public authorities, and SMEs in delivering renovations that are technologically innovative and people-centered[4]. However, specific cooperative lighthouse projects in Hasselt are not mentioned in the available information. The region's focus on cooperative housing is part of a larger European trend, with projects like the SHICC program promoting Community Land Trusts (CLT) to increase affordable housing supply and provide social, economic, and environmental benefits[5]. While Hasselt's specific activities and programs are not detailed, the broader context suggests a growing interest in cooperative housing solutions.