In the opinion of the President of the City Council, Markus Pannermayr (CSU), a shortening of the curfew for outdoor restaurants would be a good approach to revitalize the Bavarian inner cities. “I could well imagine until midnight,” he said on Monday after a digital round table with representatives of the state government, municipal umbrella organizations, ten mayors from all over Bavaria, as well as the chambers and associations in Munich. Many inner cities are facing major challenges and need creative solutions in order to get out of their current lows.
Building Minister Kerstin Schreyer (CSU) emphasized that the Corona crisis had exposed the challenges that inner cities would have faced before the pandemic like a “burning glass”. Of course, the Internet will continue to exist as a counterpart to retailers in the future. Every city is therefore required to see how the town centers can be revitalized with more event character and become more attractive for the people. Schreyer referred to the state’s 100 million euro emergency program, which has already supported 279 municipalities. The money could be used, for example, to finance structural changes or to support start-ups.
Pannermayr added that as much flexibility and low access thresholds as possible are needed so that the municipalities can use the money from the special fund. But it must also be clear to everyone that not every trade location will be preserved in every city in the future. “There have always been changes,” continued the mayor of Straubing. But he also pointed out that the municipalities would need more money in the future.
Inner cities are the heart and face of cities, said Markus Pannermayr. In contrast to shopping on the couch with a laptop, cities can give their visitors an experience that doesn’t exist on the Internet. This is an advantage that must be used.