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Königsberger Platz: CDU and SPD are torpedoing urgent housing construction!
The CDU and SPD reject housing construction plans on Königsberger Platz. WGL is planning 320 new apartments, sparking debate about social infrastructure.
Königsberger Platz: CDU and SPD are torpedoing urgent housing construction!
At Königsberger Platz in Leverkusen the signs point to a standstill. The local political parties CDU and SPD have rejected the Leverkusen Housing Association's (WGL) plans to build new living spaces. This decision follows a majority decision by the building committee, which, however, was accompanied by a clear no from the CDU. The current rejection attempt is the second after the first draft had to be revised.
On Monday, no green light was given for a new development plan and a change to the land use plan. This could mean that the rejected draft will be up for discussion again in the next council cycle, possibly even against the wishes of the district council. The WGL plans to demolish 140 old apartments and create 320 new apartments instead, about half of which are declared as social housing Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
New requirements and old challenges
The new construction projects include, among other things, a multi-story high-rise car park and an Edeka market. Whether the existing penny market will have to lag behind construction remains unclear. The AWO meeting place and the city library are no longer included in the current plans. This caused displeasure, especially among Rüdiger Scholz from the CDU, who described the plans as a “catastrophe” and criticized the loss of important facilities.
WGL boss Gerald Hochkamer defends himself against this criticism and emphasizes that an underground car park would probably have to cut down old trees. The SPD also joined the CDU in the vote and voted against the new building plans. In contrast, the Greens, the FDP and the Citizens' List support the project. The main arguments against the construction revolve around the lack of a meeting place and inadequate traffic planning.
Urgent need for social housing
The situation on the housing market in Leverkusen is tense. People who rely on affordable housing are particularly affected. There are currently around 4,850 publicly subsidized apartments in Leverkusen. But demand is high while supply remains low - in 2023 only 22 new social housing units were built, and in 2022 there was not a single one Radio Leverkusen.
A worrying development: by 2030, one in three of the currently available social housing units will no longer be supported. The report points out that it is important to exploit every suitable area and build continuously to counteract this development.In order to get rent prices under control and remain affordable for all segments of the population, thoughtful planning and commitment on the part of the city are necessary.
As a result, not only Königsberger Platz is facing renovation, the city of Leverkusen also has to find long-term solutions to meet the growing demand WGL.