There has been considerable discussion surrounding the building de Helena, where three initiatives-  Billytown, Ruimtevaart and EnergieKas – are located The municipality intended to sell the building and had therefore initiated a sales procedure. The plans required that a cinema be established there, along with space for a community room and a creative incubator. Stichting De Helena also developed a proposal and participated in the sales procedure together with the Haags Helena Collectief. Their aim was to keep the building as much as possible “not for profit,” allowing De Helena to continue flourishing socially and culturally for the city, the neighborhood, and the wider region.

After significant controversy over another interested party’s plan to turn De Helena into a 76-room hotel, the municipality decided to halt the sales procedure and is now reconsidering its next steps. Stichting De Helena still wishes to develop the building itself, in collaboration with the neighborhood, the city, the current users of De Helena, and Kriterion. It has broad support within the city from numerous The Hague-based organizations, extensive experience with other projects, and a solid business plan. The foundation invites the municipality to enter into discussions with them on this matter.

[source: EnergieKas newsletter]