One speaks of “closeness to the citizen” in Munich when politicians in the district decide exactly the opposite of what their party colleagues want in the town hall: This is all the more certain when it comes to building. It is almost an unwritten law that the local politicians in Feldmoching-Hasenbergl, where many large building projects are pending, tirelessly demand fewer and smaller buildings. The same could happen in the most recent dispute, the Ludwigsfeld settlement on the northern outskirts of the city.
According to the urban planning department’s intention, the estate is to grow by 2000 apartments to the south and east, which would almost triple in a relatively small area. This not only meets with the opposition of many residents and the local citizens’ association – but now also the local politicians in the district committee.
In their December meeting, they sent a message to their colleagues in the town hall: the construction project should be reduced significantly and enough space should be planned for recreation, that is the cross-party demand. The committee passed a ten-point plan, which is supposed to protect the existing settlement from new buildings and also wants to allow “only a cautious expansion” in the peripheral areas. It also mentions sufficient green and recreational areas, biotopes and trees.
The settlement lacks a supermarket, a meeting point for residents and parking spaces
It is just more than questionable that the city councilors see it the same way. You have to vote in the coming year on whether 2000 apartments are too many. The City Council Greens have already announced: If there is construction, then it will go up. Because this is the only way to avoid unnecessary surface sealing. The SPD is in favor of more affordable housing anyway. And the CSU, too, launched the investigation two years ago, even if it is now an opposition party and therefore neither its voices nor its steadfastness are asked for.
Investors also show a special “closeness to the citizen”. They have organized workshops, tours, public discussions and shot image videos in which, for example, the chairman of the local sports club or a master painter advertise the advantages of the development. The residents were interviewed and found out what everyone already knew: The settlement lacks a supermarket, a meeting point for the residents and parking spaces.
The citizens’ dialogue, the result of which was not surprising, included a discussion meeting two years ago.
(Photo: Niels P. Joergensen)
All of this should be created when construction is carried out – as high as possible and as densely packed as possible, including underground garages, multi-storey car parks, elementary school, daycare centers and possible tram connections. The question of 2,000 new apartments, however, was never part of the public participation. The number is decided by investors, city planners and the town hall.
In addition to private individuals from the Patrizia Immobilien AG environment, the investors are the real estate entrepreneur Ralf Büschl and a “PG Granatstrasse 12 GmbH”, which has changed its headquarters and managing directors many times over the past few years. After Berlin, Inning am Ammersee-Buch, Grünwald and Munich, it is now based in Luxembourg. “This is not the type of investor that we would like to have in the city,” comments City Councilor Dirk Höpner (Munich List).
As a result of the dispute over the number of new buildings, a concern that is very close to the heart of most Ludwigsfelders has moved into the background: a memorial for the Munich-Allach subcamp, which was located where it was now lived and soon also built will. At least 18,000 men and women were interned there between 1943 and 1945 as prisoners of war and forced labor.
Descendants of the “displaced persons” who were stranded after the war still live in the settlement, where a unique sense of solidarity and remembrance from below has developed over the decades. Whether the future neighbors will also appreciate the place will also depend on the memorial and meeting place that is planned. Concepts for this were presented three years ago. They will probably not be specifically planned and implemented until the settlement grows.