Stormestraat

Live and shop within walking distance of the Markt and city park in Waregem

The context

How does a commercial premises in the city centre gain a new purpose?

In Stormestraat, one of the main shopping streets in the heart of Waregem, an outdated commercial site is set for a new lease of life. The former retail space will become a mixed-use project, with commercial units on the ground floor and apartments above. Located within walking distance of the Markt and the city park, this development brings living and shopping together in a prime central location. The redevelopment preserves the street’s commercial character, while also creating new homes in the city centre. An existing commercial site is thus given a new purpose, perfectly fitting the vibrancy of central Waregem.

Our answer

How do residential living and retail come together on a compact city centre site?

Stormestraat brings together commercial spaces on the ground floor with a variety of apartment sizes on the upper levels. The homes offer spacious terraces, with surfaces of up to 122 m². An automated car lift provides access to the underground parking garage, making efficient use of the limited space on this city centre site. In addition to parking spaces for cars, the project also includes bicycle storage. Heat pumps and solar panels for each apartment contribute to an energy-efficient living environment.

Together with

Who is responsible for the development and the design?

ION is responsible for developing Stormestraat, giving the former commercial site in the centre of Waregem a new purpose. Wielfaert Architecten is in charge of the architectural design, seamlessly combining residential and commercial spaces within the limited footprint of this urban plot. The firm creates a cohesive building that blends naturally into the existing streetscape.

Stormestraat

Building on history, investing in the future

Welcome to Meyboom, a truly unique student residence in the heart of Brussels.
After more than a decade standing empty, the former headquarters of the Société Générale des Minérais enters a new chapter. Through the partnership between ION and Belfius Immo, this historic building is being transformed into a sustainable student residence offering 15 years of guaranteed rent via UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles.

Brussels is now home to over 137,000 students, but with a shortage of student rooms exceeding 10,000 and rising each year. Meyboom delivers a forward-looking response to this growing demand: modern rooms and studios in a beautifully restored building, full ownership and guaranteed income from day one.

Visit the project website

Info & contact

Location

Stormestraat 5-15 - 8790 Waregem

Developed by

ION

Development model

Own initiative

Architect

Wielfaert Architects

Status

Completed

Units

16

GFA

2,122 m²

Site

639 m²

Asset class

Multifamily

Retail

Prime location

In the heart of Brussels’ pentagon, surrounded by universities, shops and culture. UCLouvain Saint-Louis is just 250 metres away, with KU Leuven, Odisee and LUCA close by. Everything students need—study, relaxation and enjoyment—right at their fingertips.

Let to UCLouvain

The entire building is leased to UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels for 15 years. Investors benefit from guaranteed, indexed rental income from day one. Professional management ensures returns with complete peace of mind.

Historic building

A historic property dating from 1898, carefully restored with respect for its original character. The authentic façades and high ceilings remain, while the interior is completely renewed. This is how Brussels history finds a sustainable future.

A future-focused renovation project in the heart of Brussels

Meyboom repurposes an elegant building from 1898 on Zandstraat into a modern student residence with 220 units. The site offers student rooms ranging from 18 to 26 m² and studios between 25 and 47 m², all with private bathrooms and premium finishes.

The residence features 775 m² of communal spaces, including kitchens, study rooms and lounges, complemented by a green inner garden and a rooftop terrace with views across Brussels.

Thanks to the design by LOW Architecten, the building’s historic character is preserved while fully meeting today’s standards of comfort, energy efficiency and sustainability. Meyboom blends history with contemporary functionality — a place where students can live, study and connect in an inspiring environment.

The building on the corner of Zandstraat and Broekstraat exudes history. The stately facades are being carefully restored, while inside there is space for light, high-ceilinged rooms with plenty of daylight and contemporary comfort. A covered atrium makes way for an open courtyard garden – a green lung in the middle of the city.

Here, the past and the future meet: students live, study, and thrive in an inspiring environment that brings history and the future together.

Meyboom in figures

219 student rooms and 1 concierge’s apartment
Student rooms from 18 – 26 m²
Studios from 25 – 47 m²
All rooms and studios have private bathroom facilities

775 m² of communal spaces
Green inner garden and rooftop terrace with views over Brussels
Secure bicycle storage and full-time concierge for maintenance

A worry-free investment with guaranteed stability

Meyboom is the result of a sustainable partnership between ION, Belfius Immo and UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles. The project demonstrates how history, urban development and higher education can reinforce one another. By focusing on long-term letting and professional management, it creates a model that benefits both the city and its students.

Letting with confidence

The entire building is leased for fifteen years to UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles, a university with over 4,500 students and part of the KU Leuven network. This partnership not only offers continuity for the university, but also ensures that the building is used sustainably by the target group it was designed for. The collaboration highlights the shared ambition to create high-quality student housing in the heart of Brussels.

Professional and sustainable management

Meyboom is managed with the same care and expertise that ION and Belfius Immo bring to every project. All operational and administrative tasks are centralised, ensuring the building is run efficiently, transparently and sustainably. In this way, Meyboom remains a benchmark of collaboration, where quality, reliability and social value go hand in hand.

Once a showcase of industrial grandeur, this site is now reborn as a modern student residence. The imposing façades are preserved, but behind these historic walls lies a contemporary, sustainable living concept. Old structures give way to light, openness and connection. The history remains visible, while the building evolves to meet the needs of a new generation. Meyboom unites past and future in a single story of renewal and respect.

A partnership built on trust and a shared vision

The redevelopment of Meyboom is the result of a strong partnership between ION and Belfius Immo. Both partners share the same conviction: that true urban renewal is only sustainable when it respects the past and creates a future for people. With Meyboom, they are combining their expertise to give a historic building a new social purpose in the heart of Brussels.

ION contributes its experience in property development, architectural quality and sustainable construction, with an eye for detail and functionality.

Belfius Immo reinforces this with years of expertise in social real estate and financial structuring, ensuring that the project is not only aesthetically and technically strong, but also economically robust. Together, they demonstrate how public-private partnership can lead to projects that generate economic, social and cultural value.

This joint approach results in an innovative residential concept that connects heritage with education, sustainability and urban liveability. Meyboom is more than a renovation project: it is an example of how complementary partners are shaping the city of tomorrow, with respect for the past and confidence in what lies ahead.