Reimagining Brussels-Midi: Global Leaders Present Visionary but Grounded Solutions
Revitalizing Brussels-Midi: Global Leaders Propose Visionary and Grounded Solutions
Brussels-Midi station (Gare du Midi / Brussel-Zuid) is Belgium’s largest and most important transportation hub, linking the country to key cities such as Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Cologne via high-speed rail. Despite its strategic location, the surrounding district has suffered from years of underinvestment, fragmented governance, and rising social issues—including crime, homelessness, and urban decay.
To address these challenges, the Global Real Estate Leaders Program took on Brussels-Midi as a real-world case study. Participants were tasked with developing proposals for the revitalization of the France-Bara site and surrounding district—drawing inspiration from successful redevelopment projects such as London’s King’s Cross.
🔍 Key Proposals from Participants
- Appoint a Master Developer to unify fragmented local and regional governance
- Launch early phases with public realm improvements to build momentum and change perception
- Use phased planning and selective asset sales to attract capital and manage risk
- Consider tunneling railway infrastructure to free up valuable surface development space
- Leverage the presence of EU institutions as potential anchor tenants and credibility boosters
💬 Reflections from the Expert Panel
Following the presentations, an expert panel provided thoughtful critique and strategic insight. The key message: while ambition and urgency are present, successful redevelopment will depend on pragmatic governance, community alignment, and flexible implementation.
- Lisette van Doorn (CEO, ULI Europe): Stressed the importance of trust, flexibility, and urgency—reminding participants that patient capital is not a prerequisite if the right partners are in place.
- Imogen Thompson (Director, ULI): Emphasized meaningful community engagement, long-term resilience, and alternative metrics of value creation like wellbeing and place quality.
- Sandra Gottcheiner (Head of Development, BPI Real Estate): Highlighted the importance of aligning municipal goals with federal leadership, noting that SNCB (railway owner) has a crucial role to play in land development.
- Quentin Dupuis (Head of Development, Immobel): Called for realism—urging coordinated, phased actions and warning that overly ambitious proposals may struggle to attract investment under current market conditions.
📍 Why This Area Matters
The Brussels-Midi district is not just another neighborhood—it is the gateway to Belgium and the European Union. With more than 3,500 incidents reported around the station between 2018 and 2022, and ongoing socioeconomic pressures, the area has reached a critical point. Fragmented planning, outdated infrastructure, and poor public space have limited its potential.
The redevelopment of the France-Bara site, located at the intersection of two municipalities (Anderlecht and Saint-Gilles), presents a unique opportunity to turn around decades of disinvestment and transform the area into a thriving, connected, and inclusive urban center. With international connectivity, access to multiple transit modes, and a motivated policy environment (e.g., CRU7 and Move’Hub), the moment to act is now.
This session is a powerful example of how global real estate leaders can engage with real urban challenges—combining strategy, vision, and cross-sector expertise to chart a path forward.
🚀 Join Us in the Next Module: New York & Boston – October 2025
If you’re a mid-career real estate professional looking to sharpen your leadership skills and tackle the industry’s most complex challenges, consider joining the next cohort of the Global Real Estate Leaders Program.
Our October 2025 module includes sessions in New York City and Boston:
- Explore architecture’s future with James von Klemperer (KPF)
- Delve into office-to-residential repositions of assets and stranded assets
- Engage with top MIT faculty Siqi Zheng, Walter Torous, and Hashim Sarkis
- Join a global network of participants across the real estate sector
- Learn on climate resilience in real estate
Applications are open now. Learn more and apply here: https://www.globalrealestateleaders.com
– The Global Real Estate Leaders Program Team