The move of Facet, the library in the center of Emmen, is a big step closer. The municipality of Emmen can purchase the intended new location, the Pavilion Building on Mondriaanplein. This means an investment of a total of 17 million euros. If everything goes according to plan, Facet can move in at the earliest at the end of 2027.
Agreement has now been reached on this with real estate owner Synvest. The shop premises under the former tax office on the Kleepassage – now furnished in an anti-squat style – are also part of the deal. The required 17 million includes not only the purchase of the building, but also the necessary renovation and all other costs. “We now want to allocate 3.9 million for the purchase of the buildings, the rest is needed for the preparation and renovation of the building,” says councilor Guido Rink.
The municipality is now happy to take the development into its own hands, because it says this could be done under more favorable conditions than if it were taken up by a ‘market party’. “Consider more favorable interest rates and a long depreciation period; as a municipality we do not have a profit motive.”
The city council must still approve the plan in May.
If the latter is the case, Facet’s desired move comes one step closer. The cultural center – which includes the Emmen Library and De Kunstbeweging – has wanted to move to that central location in the city center for a long time. The library is currently still located on Noorderplein, but according to Facet that location has become too cramped in recent years.
The new location would also provide room for more collaboration with other cultural parties. “With this move, Facet will go from approximately 3,000 square meters to more than 4,500 square meters,” says councilor Dewy Leal. “That means much more space to do other things. That was necessary, because the organization has grown considerably in recent years.”
Facet expects to be able to realize a cultural and social center at the new location, with, in addition to the library, also space for the tourist information point, catering, music teachers and a heritage organization. Facet mainly wants to broaden itself as a social institution in the field of information, culture and meetings. Currently, sports store JD Sports is still located on the ground floor of the Pavilion building. Rink: “Of course we will consult carefully with the tenants, who will move in the long term.”
If the municipal council approves the requested investment in May, the move from Facet to the Pavilion can be further prepared, the municipality reports. The buildings on the Kleepassage are intended for residential use. According to Emmen, the investment amount of 17 million euros can be recouped through the rent that Facet will pay, a contribution from the National subsidy Impulse Approach to Shopping Areas of 3.5 million and the same amount from a municipal innovation fund.
Text continues after the photos:
