The Ostuferschutzverband (OSV) is appalled that the Waldemar Bonsels villa is being offered for sale. In an open letter signed by Johannes Umbreit, Petra Schulze, Manfred Stecher, Gustav Neumeister and Mechthild Felsch, it says: “The citizens of Ambach read with horror from the Süddeutsche Zeitung of 24.07.22 that the estate of the venerable Waldemar- Bonsels-Villa is sucked into land speculation and real estate exploitation.” According to the OSV, the purpose-built Waldemar Bonsels Foundation was actually intended to commemorate Waldemar Bonsels in Ambach on his property, with the proceeds going to a good cause. That went well for decades. Bonsels admirers could have commemorated the writer at his grave and – if they were lucky – had access to the study, which was still in its original condition. According to the OSV, the rental income from the property could be used in accordance with the statutes of the foundation.
Now, however, the OSV speculates that the board of trustees wants to get more out of the foundation’s assets. The property and the villa are to be sold to the highest bidder. “In order to increase the sales value, the foundation is even fighting for a building permit for a second house on the property, although the memorial garden also falls under the protection of monuments and the general plan of the municipality of Münsing expressly stipulates that no further development should take place,” write Umbreit , Schulze, Stecher, Neumeister and Felsch. According to the OSV, it will be interesting to see whether the foundation supervisory authority will agree to this overturning of the foundation structure and whether the municipality of Münsing will follow its own framework plan and prevent further development of this property. “Because further development only serves to exploit the property and maximize profits, but damages the scenic beauty of the east bank, the Bonsels-Villa monument and the memory of its former residents.”