| 1884 |
- A gas plant was built on the western outskirts of the city.
The buildings reflect a neo-renaissance architectural style. The
city purchased the gasworks in 1889.
|
| 1963 |
- Natural gas fields discovered in northern Netherlands. Coal
gasification becomes obsolete.
|
| 1967 |
|
| 1980 |
- High-profile cases of soil pollution in urban areas prompted
national concern.
|
| 1983 |
- Dutch government enacted the Soil Cleanup Interim Act.
|
| 1985 |
- The Voorontwerp Westerpark Overbrakerpolders Plan was proposed
which would demolish all or most of the buildings and convert
the site into a park.
|
| 1988 |
- A project team with full-time project manager was established
to realize the plan and incorporate input from community members.
- The first soil analysis results were received revealing that
the depth of contamination exceeded the City's financial capacity
to fully clean-up the site. Hence, the community group proposed
a cheaper and more feasible solution.
|
| 1990 |
- Amsterdam's central city government created several local district
councils to govern various public services.
- Mandate over Westerpark was transferred to the district council
of Westerpark.
|
| 1992 |
- The district council became owner of the site, and it decided
to rent out buildings for cultural events on a temporary basis.
- A national competition was launched to identify ideas for reuse
of the site.
- The most feasible idea was to house a modern music center at
the site.
- Community interest in the historical value of the buildings
gained momentum.
|
| 1993 |
- Negotiations between the central city government Ijsbreker Music
School continued.
- The district council decided that renting the buildings for
cultural events on a temporary basis should be part of the development
strategy for the site.
|
| 1994 |
- A district council manager was appointed to coordinate the Westerpark
project full-time.
|
| 1995 |
- The National Soil Protection Act was passed allowing risk-based
cleanups. The central city government's Environment Department
implemented the Soil Protection Law.
- The central city government formally rejected the music center
proposal and decided to build a music center elsewhere. In exchange,
it promised to develop an alternative for the Westerpark in close
cooperation with the district council.
|
| 1996 |
- The central city granted 12 million Guilders for the alternative
plan for the site.
|
| 1997 |
- A design competition was held for the park plan.
- An architect was chosen to develop a final plan supported by
the neighborhood and district council.
- Development of the business plan commences.
- The final cleanup plan was completed, subject to federal ministry
approval.
|
| 1998 |
- A final budget decision was made by Amsterdam's city council.
- A definitive plan for the was park approved. Restoration of
the buildings began.
- An agreement was reached with commercial partners for the business
plan of the buildings.
|
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