A new impression of a possible layout in SketchUp.
Most notable changes: The dino and one long wall on the right side.
The two paddos are sacrificed to make room for a single dino. The changeable wall is removed in favor of one long (varied) wall on the right side and thus a lot more wall, creating a much bigger climbable surface! The cave is a bit reduced in size to be able to sit it front of it.
Last Thursday, January 26, the long awaited meeting with the fire department took place. During this meeting it soon became clear the main objections of the fire department were based on misunderstandings. These objections are now cleared!
All parties agree on the main malfunctions of the building and what measures are required to counter these. There has been decided to take these measures in steps. The measures required for the boulderhal will be taken in the first step.
This means we can finally sign the tenancy agreement early February!! Then we’ll know when the construction can be started!
We keep you posted!
There have been some preparation steps in December, the columns to build the separation wall have been set up and people have been busy searching for the course of the sewerage, so I can connect to it.
Photos of these preparations are online in Photos
Today there is an article in the Delftse edition of the ‘Algemeen Dagblad’ on Bouldercenter Delfts Bleau! It’s a rather large piece, accompanied by a picture taken in the Kabelfabiek.
Article in the Algemeen Dagblad of 17 januari 2012
2011 flew by, we are looking forward to 2012!
The economic crisis, resulting in extreme caution by banks, leads to a fading enthusiasm with the banks.
Cube Bouldergym opening recently and the upcoming opening of Graviton Bouldergym in Sittard unfortunately is no proof bouldering is popular in the Netherlands. In the event we’re not able to convince the banks of this, we’ll start the bouldercentre without the bank. Step by step if there is no other option. Besides talking to the bank we are of course thinking about alternative ways to finance the bouldercentre.
As soon as the fire department is back from their Christmas holiday we can discuss the problems with them, hopefully resulting in a positive advise towards the council of Delft. After that we can finalize the request for a permit, sign the tenancy agreement for the rent and the construction of the facilities can be resumed. We are looking forward to it!
We wish everybody a sporty and healthy bouldering year! Happy New Year!
It has been some stirring weeks for Bouldercentrum Delfts Bleau!
The council had a meeting with all departments where they discussed my initiative again and they still think it’s a good idea and still support it. First hurdle taken!
There have been considerable discussions about the ‘bridging loan’, as the real estate developer found it difficult to not make their part of the ‘bridging loan’ part of the negotiations between them and the the current owner. And this while the whole idea behind this construction was to separate the progress of Bouldercentrum Delfts Bleau from their negotiations. In the end, gladly we managed to work things out, so second hurdle also taken!
This last part resulted in real action! The work on the first phase of building the separation wall is started with setting up the columns! In the last weeks, Grecon BV welded the construction to fasten the columns. This extra construction is needed because the wall has to be placed a meter to my side, so the columns could not be fastened to the existing framework. There are already nine columns set up and the next five will be placed this week.
In the mean time, there has been busy searching for the course of the sewer, so I can connect to this. Unfortunately, the tube with the camera from Zegwaard was too short, so we only know a very small part. The rest of the course has to be found by some other means. The good news is though, the sewer does not go from the current toilet block straight to the outside as expected, but in the opposite direction, to the inside and maybe even though the hall!
Unfortunately, my meeting with the fire department has, a bit unexpected for me, lead to them having some objections, causing the current owner to cease investing in the building until it becomes clear if I will get a permit.
This means things have stopped again, until the fire department gives their approval.
This is of course a nasty blow, but at the the same time it’s better if it happens now, before we’ve started building, than just before (or even worse after) we’ve opened!
To be continued!
We’re on the homepage of the Kabelfabriek site!
With a beautiful photo taken by Amber Leeman of Leeman en Strandhagen
As announced earlier Marlies from Pralaya Yoga has developed a special Yoga workshop for climbers. In this workshop there will be special attention towards discovering and strengthening the (few) muscles less developed by climbers, like the backside of the shoulder, the back of the forearms and the lower back. By developing these ‘forgotten’ muscles your joints become better balanced, giving you more control, more flexibility but also more strength thus allowing you to make movements more easy.
More info about the use of yoga to support climbing in BLOK number 12, more info on the less developed muscle groups by climbers is in an article by Mathieu Ceron in BLOK number 4. BLOK is for sale at most climbing gyms and outdoor stores or through their site (they also sell older issues). Of course you can also order a subscription or give a person a subscription as a present via the site.
The workshop is scheduled for Saturday December 17, from 10:00 to 13:00h in the Pralaya Yoga Studio, Taj Mahalplaats 18, 2624 NH in Delft. The price for this workshop is E 30,- and Marlies has offered to donate the revenues to the realization of Bouldercenter Delfts Bleau!
More info on the type of yoga Marlies teaches can be found on her site.
A (partial) description:
“Pralaya Yoga classes are a physical challenge to increase strength and flexibility and to prevent injuries.
Pralaya Yoga focusses on lengthening the spine, recruiting ‘forgotten muscle groups’ and the alignment of joints. When a joint is out of balance, the tone of the muscle groups on both sides of the joint is not equal. Pralaya Yoga strengthens the weakest muscle groups. This balances the joints in the long term, prevents injuries and let the energy flow (also to your brain!).”
Enroll now:
Last couple of weeks were good weeks for Bouldercenter Delfts Bleau. I’ve had a meeting Wednesday of last week with the landlords and during this meeting we agreed on the facilities provided upon completion of the hall. Furthermore we discussed the last details of the tenancy agreement and came to an agreement on those too. During this meeting the current owner made a proposal to the real estate developer on a way to divide the costs for the adjustments that have to be made to the hall, so I don’t have to wait for the execution of the hall. During this meeting he also stated he is willing to provide his part of the money for investments right away, on the condition the local counsel still supports my plan to start a bouldering hall at this location.
In principle we agreed on a date on which the hall will be delivered to me: Januari 1st 2012. The hurdles that still are ahead are addressed and one of these hurdles is already taken: the cooperation agreement between the real estate developers to develop the area in the future is signed this week, an import milestone!
There are still two hurdles ahead:
Last weeks I’ve been helping a couple of days in Enschede to build a temporary bouldergym (with possibilities to stay of course) as a part of the Performance Factory, which has it’s festive opening today and tomorrow. This is good for bouldering in general! More info on Cube Bouldergym at their site
It has been quiet for a while around Bouldercentum Delfts Bleau. There were several causes for this: there hasn’t been much real progress, I’m still waiting for the landlord(s) and because of this, the past period has been pretty frustrating for me. Of course it’s still is going to happen, but not at the pace I’d like it to.
Some background information: the place I am going to rent is part of an area that will be redeveloped in the future. At the moment there is a large factory standing there, that used to belong to the NKF (Dutch Cable Factory). The rear part of the hall has already been bought by a real estate developer. In the front, the part where I’m going to rent my space, another real estate developer will be buying themselves in. At this very moment they are working hard to put the dots to the i’s to finalize this deal. This makes things pretty difficult, mainly on the part where some investments needs to be made, who is going to pay for this at this point in time and when the money will be available. As soon as the deal is made, the budget the real estate developer has reserved for investments in the hall will be available, but until then, things remain difficult.
Last week I have had a good meeting with the both of them, in which the current owner told he is willing to do the necessary investment in the hall, so the bouldercenter can be opened, even if the deal with the real estate developer doesn’t come through for whatever reason. Unfortunately this doesn’t give me a definite date to start building, but it does give me (even) more certainty my plans can become reality.
Todays conclusion: it’s still on and things keep getting more positive, we just need a bit more patience!
Will keep you posted!
