The time for the Staudenhof block of flats in the center of Potsdam is running out. From the summer, the prefabricated building from the GDR era is to be demolished. The city councilors decided on Wednesday evening how things should continue in its place by specifying the main building concept for the so-called Block IV, which is to be located there. The SPD, large parts of the Greens, the CDU, the FDP, the AfD voted for this – the Left Party and the Die Andere parliamentary group voted against it.
Emotional debate in the city parliament
The debate on this was emotional at times. Two examples: Anja Günther from Die Linken said, with a view to the demolition that is due in summer: “Don’t give in to any illusions: resistance to the demolition will continue to grow.” pushed out of downtown. Green parliamentary group leader Gert Zöller replied that the condition of the building was very bad and that the layout of the apartments was unfavorable. “No one voluntarily stays near the Staudenhof, except to go in or out.” Since Anja Günther also cited the Young Greens as opponents, he replied: “Get your own party youth.”
As reported, a residential and commercial square is planned on the area between Nikolaikirche and Am Kanal street. The municipal building holding Pro Potsdam is already the owner and is supposed to handle the new building. The building is to be built with the help of state subsidies for social housing. In accordance with the guidelines, three quarters of the apartments will be rent-based and occupancy-based – i.e. given to Potsdamers with a certificate of eligibility for low rents.
It is not yet clear how many and what kind of apartments there will be. It still has to be clarified with the housing office what exactly is needed, explained Pro Potsdam last autumn when the plans were presented. Around 10,000 square meters of usable space in the form of apartments are to be created in the square. If they were as big as an average Pro Potsdam apartment, 60 square meters, you would get 166 apartments. The costs are still open. Earlier estimates went from around 40 million euros. In view of rising construction prices and interest rates and changing funding guidelines, there were no new figures, it was said at the time.
The entrance and exit for the one-storey underground car park is also planned at Alter Markt. Around 100 parking spaces are planned. This part of the plans could still tip over. The Greens had recently decided at a general meeting that this garage should be dispensed with – which Pro Potsdam can imagine. Green parliamentary group leader Saskia Hüneke told the PNN that a resolution was planned in March to dispense with the underground car park – and also to define other sustainability criteria. The Greens had also called for more ecological building standards for the new building.
As reported, the city councilors had already decided in 2021 to demolish the Staudenhof. But in view of a new initiative “Save the Staudenhof”, which climate researchers such as Hans Joachim Schellnhuber have also signed, the discussion has again been heated up in recent weeks. Among other things, the migrant advisory board and the climate council of the city had spoken out against it.
The block is currently being emptied, Pro Potsdam wants to offer replacement apartments. Demolition work is scheduled to begin in mid-2023 and will last a good year. The free plot of land is then to be used to set up the construction site for the neighboring Block IV in the center of Potsdam. The new building for the Staudenhof should not be ready for occupancy until 2029.
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