Bern: Area development Betlehem West starts
The Betlehem West area is to develop into a diverse urban quarter. To this end, a study commission has now been launched, in the context of which future visions and urban development strategies are to be elaborated.
Betlehem West is to become a "diverse, mixed neighborhood with a differentiated range of housing, employment, commercial, educational, retail and leisure uses, as well as attractive open spaces and public squares," according to the city of Bern. Exactly what this should look like will now be determined by a study commission.
The study contract is being carried out by the city of Bern together with the Migros Aare cooperative and Carlo Bernasconi AG, and is being supported by other local residents. The concerns and needs of neighborhood organizations, property owners, associations, city administration and politics have been included in the program of the commission, according to the city of Bern.
The future use, building density and accessibility of the area are now to be clarified by three interdisciplinary planning teams, who are also to develop ideas for attractive open space development and networking.
In a separate study, the city is examining possible locations for a new streetcar depot, because Bernmobil has a long-term need for additional parking capacity west of the main station, writes the city of Bern in a statement. Whether there is potential for this in the Bethlemem West perimeter is also being examined as part of the study contract.
Based on the results, an urban development concept is to be developed in 2019, which will serve as the basis for further planning.
