A condominium of 37 apartments is being built on the old Callewier site in Heule

Project developer Belipro explained its plans to redevelop the Callewier site on the Gullegemsestraat in a media session. About 165 interested people signed up to attend. Concretely, there will be 37 apartments and four shops, spread across six apartment blocks, all of which will be named after well-known Hulin residents. Note: Moniek Gheysen’s shop is part of the project and will be completely demolished in a few years. If all goes according to plan, the six blocks should be there in 2027.

Callewier’s has been a cancer spot in Heule for years. Callewier’s Store used to be one of Heule’s many wholesale markets, but since closing about 10 years ago, the location has regularly fallen prey to vandalism. After years of uncertainty, development company Belipro bought the Callewier, Moniek Gheysen and Spes Nostra Heule buildings in 2020 and demolished them in November 2021. Now, after long negotiations with the city, it has announced that 37 apartments and four shops will be built on the site. The apartments range in size from 75 to 125 square meters and offer a view of the city park. “Heul has everything to make it a successful project. We have consulted the city several times and are now offering a plan tailored to Hulin residents.” said Krist Vandemortelle of Bilbero.

Rouge Street

The project will be called “Avenue Rouge”, a reference to the many red and brown buildings in the area and to the early red gravel roads in Hewl Park. So the entire residential complex is built of red and brown bricks. The developer has repeatedly argued that it is a green housing project. For example, a small field will be created in the middle of the project that will be accessible to all Heulen residents and fruit trees will also be planted. “At the moment, 62% of the site is paved, and with the construction project we’re going into 70% green space and 30% buildings,” says Vandemoortele. The residential project will also provide direct access to the park for cyclists and pedestrians. The site also includes fashion designer Moniek Gheysen’s shop and the current bicycle shed at Spes Nostra Heule on Heulsekasteelstraat. These buildings will eventually fall. Other homes on the street will be preserved.

Avenue Rouge is divided into two large groups. Phase A consists of 2 blocks of flats and 2 stores, which will surely house a new pharmacist. It should be delivered in 2024. Phase B makes up the lion’s share of the project with 29 flats, a commercial building spread over four blocks and space for a catering business. This part includes the Moniek Gheysen store and should be completed in 2027. There will be an underground car park with 58 underground parking spaces, which will be equipped with all the necessary infrastructure to install a charging station. The developer leaves the installation itself to future residents.

Timing stands and disappears with the public inquiry starting tomorrow. Local residents then have 34 days to formulate any charges against the project. If the project developer survives this period unscathed, more preparatory work may begin this summer.

Notable names

A nice addition to the project: The building’s six floors are named after the iconic Hulin residents. For example, there would be a “Moniek” tower, a reference to Moniek Gheysen. Photographer Andrea Decock and “Tinexmoder” Rose Lapierre will also have their own apartment complex.