- Flagey Square
Eugène Flagey Square (in French: Place Eugène Flagey, in Dutch: Flageyplein, usually shortened to Flagey by locals), is a square in the
Brussels municipality ofIxelles . It was named in honour of Eugène Flagey, mayor ofIxelles from 1935 to 1953. With ten streets converging at Flagey Square, it is one of the busiest and noisiest crossroads in the city.The entire square has been under heavy reconstruction since 2002. The project has been infamously delayed many times and all activity had to grind to a halt for sometimes months on end. However, as of July 2007, work is progressing briskly and the rebuilding of Flagey Square and its vicinity may be completed by 2008. When completed, Flagey will be a leafy square directly adjacent to the neighbouring
Ixelles Ponds (the street separating them now will disappear). A large flood controlreservoir (necessary due to the low-lying terrain and highgroundwater level) and a parking lot have been built under the square. Upon the completion of the new square, all bus and tram lines passing through Flagey will have to be diverted and rescheduled.Official celebrations for the reopening of Flagey Square took place in July 2008. Events held included fireworks, concerts, guided visits and film screenings. [cite news |url=http://www.lesoir.be/regions/bruxelles/la-place-flagey-liberee-le-5-2008-06-17-607008.shtml |title=La Place Flagey libérée le 5 juillet |publisher=Le Soir |date=2008-06-17 |accessdate=2008-07-02 |language=French] [cite news |url=http://www.lalibre.be/actu/bruxelles/article/428751/festival-d-ouverture-du-5-au-12-juillet.html |title=Festival d'ouverture du 5 au 12 juillet |publisher=La Libre Belgique |date=2008-06-18 |accessdate=2008-07-02 |language=French]
Flagey Square is famous for the
art deco building occupying its entire southern side, the former Maison de la Radio (renamed to "Flagey" in 2002 and now hosting a cultural center). The building on the opposite side of the square houses the first supermarket ever opened in Belgium (in 1956), a Delhaize.Starting in 2008, the great project of RIFclarifyme will be started. This will bring new horizons to the inhabitants living around Flagey square.
References
External links
* [http://www.voiries.irisnet.be/rbxl_medias/wwwFlag_Urban6.pdf Detailed construction project (PDF)] (fr)
* [http://www.flagey.be Flagey cultural center website]
* [http://www.placeflageyplein.eu/ placeflageyplein.eu] - information on the reopening celebrations
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