Dresden. The waves surrounding the planned new building on Dresden’s Ferdinandplatz are again high. The city administration wants to build a new administrative center there. Cost: 116 million euros net.
There is a dispute about the high costs and the appearance. A jury has already chosen the winner. Now it is doubted that Dresden should afford this new building.
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The Association of the Saxon Economy (VSW) and the Association of Taxpayers (BdSt) are now campaigning against the new building on Ferdinandplatz. The Presidents Jörg Brückner (VSW) and Thomas Meyer (BdSt) say they are “concerned” that Dresden is setting the wrong priorities for investments.
“Investments are right – in the infrastructure, in schools, kindergartens – also in health and culture. All of this is part of a livable city that all citizens and guests want,” explain Meyer and Brückner. “The approach to the new administrative center, which is to be built on Ferdinandplatz for 150 million euros, does not meet with our approval. It has not yet been convincingly demonstrated that the state capital needs this building.”
The companies in Dresden are in a very difficult situation through no fault of their own because of the Corona crisis and are fighting for their existence. “You have to expect the city – the city council and the administration alike – to be extremely frugal,” said the presidents. “The administrative center should – now more than ever – be put to the test.”
You refer to the petition of the controversial Dresden satirist Uwe Steimle with the title “New town hall? The citizens should decide!” They support them.
Petition: More than 10,000 signatures
Steimle submitted the petition to the city administration as an e-petition. She already has more than 10,000 signatures. Steimle is calling for a referendum on whether Dresden should afford to build on Ferdinandplatz.
Many of Dresden’s landmarks are in a deplorable condition. “The ravages of time and rust are gnawing at the Blue Wonder, entire floors of the town hall have been closed for years due to dilapidation, the town hall tower is closed and the golden town hall man is orphaned, the television tower stands lonely and defiant on the slopes of the Elbe, but the wonderful view over it The Elbe valley has been denied to Dresden residents for decades. The city hospital with the houses in Friedrichstadt and Neustadt is old – but in many parts no longer venerable. The Sachsenbad, in which entire generations of Dresdeners learned to swim, is falling apart, “says Steimle.
Uwe Steimle suggests a toll for the Blue Wonder. © picture-alliance
Steimle: “Do you want total surveillance?
“First the duty, then the freestyle”, demands Steimle. Therefore, the financing of the blue miracle must first be clarified. The renovation of the bridge is to be broken up and thus the costs for it could rise to up to 160 million euros.
But that is not the only reason why the Ferdinandplatz project should be put up for discussion. The city council voted for it in 2018, but according to Steimle under different conditions. “At that time the city was assuming a steadily growing city and wanted to pay for the whole thing from existing reserves.” It is now being financed by credit through a municipal subsidiary. “If I also hear that all files there should be digital – people aren’t suspicious for nothing.” Then Steimle asks a question reminiscent of conspiracy theories: “Do you want total surveillance?”
Suggestion: toll for the Blue Wonder
Steimle demands that there must be a referendum in which the Dresden residents decide for or against the construction. “That must also be considered together with the Blue Wonder.”
For the missing millions for the bridge, Steimle also has an alternative proposal. “You could collect donations and introduce a toll for the bridge – why not!”
Bridge tolls actually existed once before when the Blue Wonder was still called King Albert Bridge. Customs was due from the inauguration in 1893 to 1924 and was three times the construction costs of the time.
SPD: Don’t get involved in local politics
There is criticism of the initiative of the associations from the SPD. “The Association of the Saxon Economy should take care of its original business, instead of interfering in Dresden’s local politics,” said SPD city councilor Richard Kaniewski. Dresden very much needs the new building. “As an employer, the city has a great responsibility towards its employees. In the long term, it can no longer meet this responsibility with its existing properties,” said the city council.
Dresden is building “a good house for good work and a house for the people of Dresden,” says Kaniewski. To play off the administrative staff against the Dresden economy is “unfair”. In addition, a lot of money is invested in education, social affairs, art and culture and the stabilization of the economy.
Then Kaniewski also shoots against Steimle. “The reference to the petition of the local political ‘expert’ Steimle shows in an impressive way how little VSW and BdSt know the concrete conditions in the state capital. She has been trying to stop the project for a while.
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