City Wants to Buy Zilverfabriek to House City Hall
The Voorschoten municipal executive intends to purchase the Zilverfabriek and establish the new city hall there. The executive recently shared this plan with the city council. The executive is eager to discuss the future use of the current city hall with the council and partners such as the library. Instead of the non-historic outbuildings, the municipal executive is considering a new construction project. In six weeks, the city council will decide whether the municipal executive may indeed purchase the Zilverfabriek.
The city hall on Burgemeester Berkhoutpark is severely outdated. To address this, the city council was presented with five scenarios last summer. It chose Scenario E. This means that the city will develop a detailed design for a largely new city hall at the same location. The so-called “mother building” will be preserved. Surrounding it will be new buildings housing, among other things, offices, meeting rooms, the library, and social service organizations. The design was scheduled to be presented to the council in September.
A unique opportunity
In late January, an unexpected opportunity arose for a new location for City Hall: the Zilverfabriek came up for sale. “We were already well underway with plans for renovation and new construction at our current location,” says Councilman Pieter Varekamp. “But the Zilverfabriek holds such historical significance for Voorschoten, and the opportunity to acquire it was so unique that we decided to enter into negotiations after all. Moreover, everything we have in mind fits there: from service counters for residents and offices for civil servants to a council chamber with space for the press and the public. In addition, the location is easily accessible and also offers sufficient space for social organizations. So, in fact, we are now asking the council to consider Scenario F.”
June 4: Final Decision
Negotiations between the owner of the Zilverfabriek and the municipality were concluded in April. The municipality signed a letter of intent, which included, among other things, the condition precedent that the council approve the agreement. The council had already been informed, but now the municipal executive is also making the news public. The council has six weeks to express any wishes or concerns. It will make a final decision at the meeting on June 4. If the decision is positive, it will take about another year and a half before the Zilverfabriek is renovated and converted into a municipal building.