250+ Housing Units to Be Built in Kirchberg

the public actors National Low-Cost Housing Administration (Société Nationale des Habitations à Bon Marché – SNHBM) and Fonds Kirchberg have announced they are carrying out a new project in collaboration with the Ministry for Housing and the Ministry for Mobility and Public Works, at the entrance to the Kirchberg district along Avenue John F. Kennedy, a project spanning over 250 dwellings.

According to the aforementioned public actors, the JFK South project aims for quality urban planning that allows for urban density. The Ministry of Housing contributed €35 million to the financing of affordable housing. During a press conference, François Bausch, Luxembourg Minister for Mobility and Public Works and Henri Kox, Luxembourg Minister for Housing, presented the key ideas of the project.

The JFK Sud Zone A project was developed by the Kirchberg Fund and will be carried out by the SNHBM on land that the Kirchberg Fund has conceded to the State. The Ministry of Housing participates through its “Special Housing Development Support Fund” in the financing of affordable housing (rental and sale) and the infrastructure of the said project.

The project will be developed on a vacant lot, between avenue John F. Kennedy, the main artery of Kirchberg, and rue du Fort Thüngen. It aims to create an urban link between the imposing architecture of the European and national institutions and the district of Weimershof, itself in full transformation.

Thus, along Avenue John F. Kennedy, taller buildings will be located opposite the new secretariat of the European Parliament. Downstream, smaller ensembles ensure the visual link with the Weimershof.

The project offers shared spaces for the new residences’ inhabitants. For a smooth transition, the project puts squares and interior courtyards at the centre that allow residents to walk between the buildings and meet neighbours. Passageways provide the connection between rue du Fort Thüngen and avenue John F. Kennedy and contribute to the network effect that the project will have to link Weimershof to the European district.

The stepped architecture is oriented towards the southwest and allows the penetration of the sun's rays, while ensuring a view of the surrounding landscape. Along rue Fort Thüngen, townhouses in rows directly overlook public spaces, also linking up with the existing district.

On the Avenue John F. Kennedy side, the ground floor spaces are intended for offices and a total of twelve small and medium-sized shops and services. Thus, the project will have to encourage an urban activity in addition to the large structures already present on the plateau.

The "European Parliament" tram stop is directly opposite, making the JFK South Zone A1 project an address that allows car-free living if the inhabitants wish. 777 indoor spaces for bicycles (one space per room) and a direct connection to the network of cycle paths encourage soft mobility.

Minister Bausch expressed delight that work has begun for the development of the new residential district on Boulevard J.F. Kennedy: “This major project will contribute to the development of urban planning in Kirchberg. The objective is to build a district which will make it possible to reconcile the different functions of urban life – working, living and leisure”.

The JFK project consists of buildings of various sizes and housing typologies. All accommodation is made by the SNHBM.

Housing, intended for rental and affordable sale, represents about two thirds of the entire project. To this end, the public promoter will benefit from financial contributions from the Ministry of Housing. Nearly 60% of this affordable housing will be for rental. It will mainly be apartments located on the side of the avenue. 40% of affordable housing will be for sale. For these goods, the general conditions and standard criteria of sale of the SNHBM will apply.

The townhouses on the rue du Fort Thüngen side and the apartments created for the Kirchberg Fund will be for free sale.

All these accommodations have the particularity of offering absolute proximity to the largest employment pool in the country, while the City of Luxembourg suffers from a housing shortage.

“I am delighted with the good collaboration between the various public actors, for the realization of this important housing project which is 2/3 affordable, in one of the most prominent districts of the City of Luxembourg. The capital particularly needs to increase its stock of housing in public hands, in order to offer people who work there access housing at affordable prices,” highlighted Minister Kox during a press conference.

The affordable housing project, carried out on land belonging to the State, benefits from financial contributions from the Ministry of Housing up to 70% for affordable rental housing and 50% of the costs for development and infrastructure costs for housing intended for affordable sale.

The work is being carried out gradually, starting in the southwest and progressing northeast along J.F. Kennedy Boulevard, with the start of the construction’s infrastructure having started in March 2023, the start of construction (earthworks, construction) scheduled for October 2023 and the projected end of construction date being foreseen for January 2028.