Westergasfabriek Timeline

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	The plant closed.
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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Westergasfabriek Timeline

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