(How) Can You Plan an Urban Common? Place-Making, Visioning and Negotiating for a Common on the Josaphat Site in Brussels

Abstract

"The former railway site of Josaphat, in Brussels, is mainly lying bare. The Brussels Capital Region, the owner of the terrain, is finalising its development scheme (Schéma directeur) in the hope to provide a solid answer to the critical housing need in Brussels. Recognising this need but raising questions on the decision­ making and management process for the future development, the citizen collective Commons Josaphat (CJ) aims to negotiate the future development of the Josaphat site as an urban common. This is not an easy target within the Brussels urban development setting; most of the bottom ­up city ­making ventures cross upon rigorous barriers when reaching out to the decision ­making level."