Who's the 'green' for? The social inclusion/exclusion of urban renewal projects
Over the past decade, the concepts of 'green' and 'circular' economy have increasingly gained traction in public discourses, programs and policies in Europe. Based on the idea of boosting new economic cycles while solving major environmental problems, these concepts have been translated into urban programs and policies with distinct economic and socio-spatial impacts. The Abattoirs and Markets of Anderlecht–a 11-ha site located in the one of the Brussels' poorest inner-city neighborhoods–represents one of these 'urban (re)development projects' attracting a lot of interest and generating debate for many years now.The private company that holds a long-term lease contract with the municipality of Anderlecht for the exploitation of the site has benefited of EU and Regional funding (the ERDF - European Regional Development Fund) for the implementation of an ambitious masterplan which comprises the global reorganization of the site with the relocation of the existing slaughterhouses into a new mixed-use building hosting various activities related to the food sector, the creation of a large public 'playground', the promotion of new 'sustainable' housing, and the creation of rooftop farms for a 'smart' agriculture. The company's foremost concern is to enhance greening as well as openness and adaptability of the site.On the other hand, the Abattoirs site and its neighborhood play a specific role in providing home and access to the labor market to newcomers and immigrants aiming to improve their socio-economic conditions. The Abattoirs, in particular, host one of the largest and cheapest market of the city and enables a variety of formal and informal networks. For instance, it enables market vendors, immigrants, low qualified workers and volunteers to equally engage in a variety of economic and social activities ranging from selling to recovering and recycling food and goods. At this respect, the Abattoir site represents a truly inclusive and hospitable place, particularly for disadvantaged or marginalized people.A main ...