2024-01-09 15:32:00
It is agreed, by a decision of the municipal council of December 19, 2023, that the City of Verviers purchases from the developer City Mall all the property which belongs to it on the banks of the Vesdre. For an amount of 13 million… but on the condition that, within 12 weeks, these acquisitions are financed by subsidies from the Walloon Region.
Will this be the case? Nothing is less sure. This Tuesday morning, in the parliamentary committee of the Walloon Region, Verviers deputy and municipal councilor Laszlo Schonbrodt (PTB) questioned both PS Minister Christophe Collignon (in charge of supervision over the Commons) and Minister MR on the issue. Willy Borsus (in charge of land use planning).
Eh alors ? Laszlo Schonbrodt: “Both answered the same thing: Verviers has already received significant post-flood subsidies: 13 million for the purchase of property to be demolished and 8.9 million for rehousing. For them, it is possible that the City of Verviers redirects part of these subsidies for the purchase of City Mall property.”
The PTB deputy deduces that there is no question of Verviers receiving an additional financial envelope. However, the 13 million to buy houses or land from disaster victims in areas intended to widen the overflow perimeter of the Vesdre in the event of flooding have already been spent in large part. from there to above all using the 8.9 million intended for rehousing, to the detriment of the victims? This is what the opposition councilor fears. Just as he denounces the possibility that Verviers, without other subsidies, would nevertheless purchase the City Mall goods, at a price that he considers exorbitant, and “resells the recoverable parts at a low price” (excluding future public spaces).
Non-information ?
What does the acting mayor, Alexandre Loffet (PS), who negotiated with City Mall, say? Not much: “I have constructive contacts with the Walloon Region. This is non-information and I do not think it is constructive to debate it in a parliamentary committee, nor in the media. I am in the process of negotiating a financial package with the Walloon Region. I will only speak when this assembly is completed… or not.”
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#Region #finance #purchase #City #Mall #assets #City #Verviers