Laan van Spartaan

Jan van Galen Sportpark, a former sports park (4 soccer fields, 2 gyms, and a baseball field) located within the city of Amsterdam is being transformed into a new multi-use neighborhood with approximately 1,000 units of mixed income housing, parking garages to accomodate up to 1,020 cars, and 430,000 square feet of  public and private amenities including retail, restaurant, gym, and a youth center.

In 2000 Bouwfonds MAB was selected as the developer in a competition held by the City of Amsterdam and Borough of Bos & Lommer. Bouwfonds MAB established a partnership with Ymere, the largest nonprofit housing corporation and leading developer of affordable housing in Amsterdam. Lead architect for the partnership is Claus & Kaan architects. The urban design is by Rotterdam-based planning firm BGSV. The plan is being implemented in conjunction with the local borough, which will be responsible for maintenance and management of public spaces and sports facilities in the new neighborhood.

I was part of a small team responsible for maintaining relationships with the local borough and partners involved in the project, as well as fostering political and public support for the project. From 2005 through 2006 I managed the planning and design process, overseeing the work of architects and other consultants, negotiated contracts, directed project managers, prepared internal reports on the financial, legal, technical and planning status of the project and developed a branding and marketing strategy.