The largest urban reconversion investment in Romania was approved by the Cluj-Napoca Local Council
The urban zoning plan (PUZ) for the reconversion of the former Carbochim industrial platform and the restructuring of the 1 Mai Square was approved by the Cluj-Napoca Local Council. Estimated upwards of half-billion Euro, the investment by companies IULIUS and Atterbury Europe is an endeavor geared towards recovering and developing an industrial area and transforming it into a pole of urban attraction with multiple uses including the largest retail area in Romania (120,000 sqm GLA), office, culture and new entertainment concepts, set to be anchored by an urban garden with access to Someș River.
In the first phase of this endeavor, IULIUS has relocated the Carbochim factory, the largest manufacturer of professional abrasives in Romania, into an area suited for industrial manufacture, while also investing EUR 7 million to optimize and streamline its business without any disruptions. The former Carbochim industrial platform spans on approximately 14 hectares, yet the remaining business of the factory only used 30% of this area.
“We have taken an important step in Cluj-Napoca in our reconversion project for the former Carbochim industrial platform. The Local Council’s vote confirms that the project is aligned with the vision of the Municipality on the development of the city and the overall region. We propose an extensive investment with multiple uses, a green project with a focus on culture, set to restore a grey area that was previously inaccessible to Cluj residents, thus giving it back to the city. This is a natural continuation of the experience we have acquired in developing major urban regeneration projects in key Romanian cities over the last decade. The particularity of the proposal for Cluj-Napoca lies in the fact that we preserved the landmark-factory of the city, relocating and upgrading its facilities, without disrupting its business. We brought in experts from many domains and this project also marks the first concept by world-acclaimed Dutch architecture firm UNStudio, and we look forward to creating a brand-new space for the people of Cluj, inspired by their very own expectations,” said Iulian Dascălu, President of IULIUS Company.
The project proposes the implementation of international sound practices for integrating industrial heritage elements into a real-estate investment, by preserving buildings that are symbolic of the local identity. According to the studies that were conducted and the expert assessment reports, this approach was practicable for the arcade hall and the administrative building which carry ambient-related value. These two buildings will be integrated in the project and will be repurposed for cultural uses and for supporting local initiatives.
A performing arts center and an auditorium will also be created here, both of these cultural concepts marking a premiere for a real-estate project based in Romania. In fact, the project will include a comprehensive entertainment component, as it is also bound to include outdoor event spaces, the latest cinema technologies and open air cinema, family-friendly interactive entertainment centers, a concept-bookstore, and dedicate sport and wellness areas. All of these are part of the retail area spanning more than 120,000 sqm, alongside approximately 400 premium and mass market brands, family-friendly and home&deco specialty anchors, a diverse mix of international coffee shops and concept-restaurant in the country, fresh market, local services and products, medical hub, etc.
The integration of Someș River into the project will mark a premiere in opening the public access towards the waterfront. This process is in line with the Municipal strategy for developing the green & blue corridor of the city. The latter will extend through the project via a new urban garden with more than 52,000 sqm of landscaped green spaces, fitted in a similar fashion to the IULIUS parks in Palas Iași and Iulius Town Timișoara, set to accommodate more than 700 trees that are up to 60 years old and standing at heights up to 13 meters, including trees that were salvaged from the former industrial platform.
Ample investments are proposed in planning and optimizing the urban connectivity of the entire area, undertaken by IULIUS based on an agreement with the Municipality worth approx. 66 million Euro, including direct and indirect benefits for the city, community spaces, as well as infrastructure works worth approx. 30 million Euro, such as creating a new four-lane road bridge over Someș River with sidewalks and bicycle lanes, upgrading the nearby streets, building two pedestrian walkways, fitting out 1 Mai Square and bicycle infrastructure. The project will also entail the creation of 4,800 underground and aboveground parking spaces, 900 of which will be fitted with electric vehicle charging capabilities, as well as 2,500 bicycle parking spaces.
The investment will be made by companies IULIUS and Atterbury Europe. The project is currently in the building permitting phase. The first phase of the works, namely the dismantling of the former industrial facilities, is nearing completion, as this endeavor is independent of the approval and permitting process for the new project.
