Citydev.brussels and Entrakt, a property management firm from Anderlecht, celebrated the opening of the former Delhaize LionCity I headquarters on Friday in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, with Mayor Catherine Moureaux (PS).
The Ahold Delhaize group vacated the historic headquarters in 2020, closing its doors for the first time since 1883. The 4.4-hectare site near the Brussels West Station in Molenbeek has been empty since then, presenting significant redevelopment opportunities for the Brussels-Capital Region.
Citydev.brussels purchased the site shortly after and divided it into two main zones: LionCity I and LionCity II, a nod to the Delhaize logo.
The LionCity project in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels. Credit: Belga / Morgan Berger
LionCity I occupies the larger portion of the former headquarters, covering 3.8 hectares. The long-term plan includes residential projects, a new 3,200-square-metre Delhaize supermarket, shops, hospitality venues, and a city farm with basic infrastructure totalling 2,000 square metres.
Renovation work on LionCity I is anticipated to begin no earlier than 2028. In the meantime, 25 organisations will make use of the site under the supervision of Entrakt, which activates vacant buildings for a variety of uses, including arts, crafts, entrepreneurship, and social initiatives.
These temporary users, including start-ups, cultural associations, artists, and social economy projects, can operate on the site until at least 2026.
The LionCity project in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels. Credit: Belga / Morgan Berger
Mayor Catherine Moureaux stated that this temporary use fits into a wider trend in Brussels of transforming abandoned industrial sites into vibrant hubs for economic and social activities, which revitalises the neighbourhood and meets the immediate needs of residents and local businesses.
Dries Vanneste, manager of Entrakt, expressed his excitement about the project, noting that they will focus on strengthening the project’s ecosystem, maintaining strong ties with the local community, and amplifying the project’s impact on the broader area.
The official opening of LionCity I includes a weekend of activities, such as tours, graffiti jams, children’s events, a vintage flea market, parkour, and DJ sets.
