The former cigarette factory that stood out from Ettelbruck's southern entrance is on its way to be replaced by a new Nordstad administrative centre, creating an estimated 650 job opportunities in the administrative, commercial, and gastronomic domains.
For almost 60 years, the Heintz Van Landewyck cigarette factory has dotted the southern entrance to Ettelbruck. Following the demolition of the factory four years ago due to a relocation of production to the Fridhaff–an industrial and commercial zone in Diekirch–a new commercial and administrative project will take its place. While the production hall of the cigarette factory was demolished in February 2021, the administrative premises still stood.
The project, originally called "Ettelbruck One" and now rebaptised as Centre administratif Nordstad, is in the making, with the external renovations of the building almost finished. The first administration to grace this building with its presence will be the Université Populaire Luxembourg–an institution that offers lifelong learning courses for adults–which will open its doors to the public by the middle of next year. Currently, there is no semblance of the original cigarette factory site that used to lie between the Rue des Alliés and the train rails.
The new administrative centre stands out as one crosses the entrance to Ettelbruck from the direction of Schieren. The premises above ground make up 19,000 gross square metres. Plans for a two-level underground car park are also underway. It is estimated that this monumental project will lead to the creation of 650 job opportunities, mostly in the administrative domain.
Landimmo CEO Jürgen Primm explains in conversation with RTL that the old blends with the new, as administrative sections of the Nordstad located in older buildings will mix with the novel institutions that will find their place in Ettelbruck, such as the aforementioned Université Populaire.
The administrative sections located in the Nordstad will move from the Cité militaire area in Diekirch to the new premises in Ettelbruck. Some of these administrations include the Land Registry and Topography, Customs and Excise, and some administrative sections of the Ministry of Education. Even the public medical centre Maison médicale located in Avenue Lucien Salentiny will move to the new administrative centre due to space limitations.
According to Primm, the 450 job opportunities in the public sector will be coupled with job openings from the private sector, as negotiations involving a bakery and a kiosk are ongoing. Further negotiations with the owner of the site–The Common Compensation Fund for the General Pension Regime–also involve the establishment of a restaurant. Furthermore, the electricity of the site will be covered by air-source heat pumps and by solar panels installed on the roof of the administrative centre.
Ettelbruck mayor Bob Steichen shares his enthusiasm for the project with high hopes that it will have a positive impact on commercial activity in the municipality and beyond. Steichen stresses the regional focus that the project can have, making Ettelbruck a shopping city that strengthens the Nordstad region in general. He highlights the advantage of the project due to its proximity to the city centre, which will be better connected to it thanks to a planned bicycle highway.
All in all, the costs of the new Nordstad administrative centre amount to an estimated €100 million.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
