Municipality buys part of Galleria Boulevard
The municipality describes it as a major investment in upper secondary school and the city centre.
”We’re not doing this to save Steen & Ström. We’re doing this because it’s good for us and for the city centre.”Pierre Månsson (L), Municipal Councillor.
– It's a good deal. It will be significantly cheaper than what we could have built it for ourselves, says Pierre Månsson (L), Municipal Councillor.
He emphasises:
– We’re not doing this to save Steen & Ström. We’re doing this because it’s good for us and for the city centre.
” we do it for the school's sake”Anders Tell (S), Opposition Leader
Anders Tell (S, Opposition Leader, says:
– For our part, it’s important that we do it for the school's sake.
Block C has been empty since it was completed in 2015.
Galleria Boulevard was the billion-crown investment that was supposed to have more visitors than Gekås in Ullared. After buying parts of the shopping centre, the owner Steen & Ström will be left with about 20 stores.
Galleria Boulevard was officially opened on Friday 25thOctober 2013. The idea was that there would be 28,000 square metres for 70 shops – as well as restaurants, cafes and cinemas. And 150 residences were going to be built; about 30 of them in the shopping centre.
The huge construction project would provide 400-500 jobs and a turnover of more than 1 billion crowns. The number of visitors during the third year would amount to 5 million - more than Gekås in Ullared.
Eight years later, there are 31 businesses in Galleria Boulevard. If you exclude restaurants, cafes, gyms and entertainment, there are about 20 shops.
The billion crown project was already being criticised and delayed around the time of the opening ceremony.
During the whole Galleria Boulevard process, there were also plans to build C4 Shopping. In September 2018, the competitor opened in Hammar.
The municipality was approached by Steen & Ström at the beginning of 2020 to see if they were interested in buying Block C. Kristianstad municipality said yes and now wants to build a high school for 800-1000 pupils.
On the question of when a high school would open in Block C, Peter Johansson (M), Municipal Councillor, answers:
– Autumn term 2025.
The deal needs to be approved by the Municipal Council and Steen & Ström's board.
