St. Luke’s Church, visible from afar, marks the center of southern Lehel. However, a lively center in the area between Maximilianstrasse and Zweibrückenstrasse has never developed at their feet. How could it be, Mariannenplatz actually only exists on the city map. In reality, it consists of two 50 to 60 meter short dead-end streets, parked on either side, to the north of the church and to the south of it, where there is at least a popular children’s playground. Based on the example of St. Anna Square in central Lehel, Gärtnerplatz or the numerous Haidhauser squares, the district committee for Altstadt-Lehel now wants to create a district square here. However, not without the blessing of the local residents, who had shown themselves to be quite open to discussions in recent years when it came to weighing up parking spaces and the quality of the stay.
The new square is intended to offer a meeting and attraction point for neighbors as well as a worthy setting for the Lukaskirche, also known as the “Cathedral of Munich Protestants” because of its history and imposing architecture. The fact that the busy Steinsdorfstrasse has been expanded to within two meters of the main portal can no longer be changed. The BA, on the other hand, sees conversion and expansion potential in the southern of the two Mariannenplatz axes. This forms a cul-de-sac towards Steinsdorfstraße and, with 15 parking spaces, is primarily used as a car park and currently also for the development of a construction site at Steinsdorfstraße 10. If the roadway were unsealed and raised to the level of the church forecourt and the southern sidewalk, there would be around 30 to 50 parking spaces meter large area that has already been designed in the area of the playground.
Bicycles should have more space after the conversion
The northern part of Mariannenplatz, on the other hand, is not suitable for traffic calming from a local point of view, since it is required as a connection between Steinsdorfstrasse and Thierschstrasse. With generous parking and repair facilities for bicycles, the BA at Mariannenplatz also wants to promote the traffic turnaround, but the parking spaces should not be lost without replacement. Rather, the local politicians assume that the parking space balance in the district can be compensated. On the one hand, parking spaces in the northern Ländstraße and the eastern Liebherrstraße, which have been occupied for years by construction sites, should soon be free again, and mixed parking spaces in the area could be redesignated as spaces for residents only.
Nevertheless, the committee did not immediately support the green-red application. The unanimous decision only came about after the CSU parliamentary group introduced a passage according to which the BA would initiate the project “subject to the consent of the residents” with the administration. The planning department should still take the very first step, namely determining feasibility. The CSU had demanded that the entire procedure be preceded by a citizens’ meeting, which the BA majority rejected. After all, according to the reasoning, it could also happen that the citizens enthusiastically demand the space, only to then get a “no” from the administration.
Already at the imminent loss of six parking spaces, protests arose
A high degree of diplomatic caution seems to be required for the district representatives around St. Lukas, after small or even only gently suggested changes had caused strong reactions here in the past: three years ago, at the beginning of 2020, a resident had suggested the one just behind the Lukaskirche to narrow the south end of Adelgundenstraße for a small space, which would have cost around six parking spaces. After clear protest and more than 100 residents’ signatures against the project, it never got beyond the idea stage.
Green City has already tried to recapture public space in 2021.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
A good year later, the “Quartierswende” tested by the “Green City” association on the basis of an online vote caused quite a stir, especially in the district committee itself. After a heated discussion, the committee rejected the “multifunctional quarter meeting point” north of the church that was planned for summer 2021 and was much desired, even in a reduced version that would have replaced two parking spaces with a “parklet” for a period of two months and provided for the drive-through to block Steinsdorfstrasse for a day of action. The Green City planners then anticipated part of the current initiative by relocating their activities to the south church forecourt – albeit outside the street area.