> The Möbius II tower was purchased in 2021 by the Belgian government for use by its domestic spy agency, the Sûreté de l’État, for €217 million from Immobel, Belgium’s largest listed real estate company. After the splashy acquisition, however, the building’s sleek, all-glass design failed to meet the spy agency’s basic security requirements. And as renovations were deemed too expensive, Belgium’s spies were kept down the road at their old offices...

https://www.brusselstimes.com/economics/1566538/brussels-office-bailouts-empty-floors-full-price-no-spies

#diligence #ftw

Brussels’ office bailouts: Empty floors, full price, no spies

As much as 25% to 35% of all Brussels office space is vacant. Millions of square metres are unused, with buildings often even lit up looking like 'zombie buildings' from the outside.