Elsewhere, the traffic transition may have stalled, but in Sendling-Westpark it is moving vigorously towards Partnachplatz: the municipal mobility department and the district committee of the district are currently putting the finishing touches to a concept for redesigning the area. The aim is to calm traffic around the subway station, sometimes with a 20 km/h speed limit. More greenery and benches should also increase the quality of stay, “without over-furnishing”. Car sharing offers, pedestrian-friendly elements and a significantly upgraded bicycle infrastructure round off the renovation program, including parking spaces for cargo bikes. The city administration speaks of an emerging “mobility point” that represents a real alternative to motorized individual transport. So there is more at play than structural cosmetics. However, as part of the redesign, the number of parking spaces will be “significantly reduced” – which is met with skepticism by the operators of the surrounding shops.
“If a lot of parking spaces are lost here, I’ll be done for,” says Malgorzata Fornal, who runs a foot care studio on Partnachplatz. Because most of their customers are older or infirm, they cannot do without traveling by car. Aside from that, the subway station’s escalators and elevator didn’t always work.
A few meters further, in the flower shop “Blütenzauber”, people are also thinking about things. Because of the parking situation, but also in view of the mini park that is to be created opposite. “Hopefully it won’t just be the bums sitting there with their beer bottles,” says a saleswoman.
The staff at Café Hanoi, also part of the row of shops, have never heard of the upcoming transformation of the square – it is scheduled to take place in 2025. Otherwise, a branch of the Stadtsparkasse and a stationery store are part of the ensemble on the north side of the square. They all have customers who come by car.
A big example in the planning area is the supermarket, which extends from Albert-Roßhaupter-Straße to Treffauerstraße. Here you have to be careful not to narrow the delivery zone by planting trees or other measures, warns Alfred Nagel, spokesman for the CSU parliamentary group in the district committee. This also applies to the other shops, but the hypermarket is particularly important as a local supplier for the entire district. Ten-ton trucks, for example, should be able to maneuver there unhindered, said Nagel.
The Sendling-Westpark district committee is apparently expecting resistance. Günter Keller (SPD), chairman of the committee, announced an information event that should take place in January if possible – “to reduce the excitement.” Maria Hemmerlein, spokeswoman for the Green Party, advised not to overestimate the objections. The fact that business people are initially very skeptical when parking spaces are encroached upon is a “robust experience”. But in the end, she believes that changes will also be viewed positively in these circles. Hemmerlein also reminds us that improvements are being made at Partnachplatz that are expressly desired by the population.
In fact, five years ago an ideas workshop was at the beginning of the change process. As part of this citizen participation, the district council collected suggestions, which were then discussed with city departments and translated into concrete plans. According to the district committee, their implementation is now finally imminent. Sounds like unity and relief.