Just over a year after the completion of the redevelopment of the Erlöserkirche, which began in 2018, as a monument of national importance, the Protestant parish of Erding is tackling the next construction project: redevelopment and conversion of the community center, which is also located on Friedrichstrasse.
Erding - It is to become part of the Socially Integrative City project in Klettham Nord by October and thus become a community center for the entire district. 600,000 euros are estimated, the regional church is providing 280,000 euros, further grant providers have applications from Pastor Christoph Keller. The parish itself has to raise 300,000 euros - from donations. It is the same amount that the local church collected for the renovation of the church.
The small parish hall east of the Erlöserkirche is one of three in the parish - and so far the least known. It is located behind the high brick wall that also shields the church from the street. Finally, reports Keller, there was an office of the Diakonie and a rather modest parish room in it. The pastor's apartment was occupied by refugees until the end of last year.
Since Monday last week, construction workers have had the say in the listed building like the church.
The Munich architect Jörg Rehm, who also provided technical support for the church renovation from 2017, reports: "The wall between the community room and the former living room is coming out so that we can create a larger hall." The Diakonie's office, which is currently orphaned, is being renovated.
The rest of the apartment will be converted into an office, which is expected to be occupied by Pastor Andrea Oechslen's successor from autumn.
According to Keller, the application period ends this week, "some interested people have contacted us".
Oechslen had mostly run her business from her official residence in Siglfing.
A meeting room, a smaller group room, a storage room and a cloakroom are also being created - and all of this on a compact 200 square meter area.
Pastor Keller hopes that the office in the parish hall will stimulate the ensemble.
"We want to hold more events here again," he announced.
With "we" is not only meant the church.
Because right next door is the - new - district management of the city for Klettham Nord.
Town hall and rectory have common work in mind.
“It should be a community center that is used by as many groups as possible,” says Keller, looking ahead.
According to the architect Rehm, the wall facing the street, which many perceive as separating, must not be demolished for monument protection reasons, but the rather unattractive parking lot in the east of the church grounds disappears.
As is well known, a new, green meeting point is planned there, where a weekly market is also conceivable.
Keller admits that parking spaces in the area are already in short supply.
"For this we are building new ones north of the church on Georgenstrasse," he promises.
Rehm reports that monument protection does not exactly make renovation and renovation easier.
“The shell has to remain untouched.” However, a renovation backlog has to be cleared inside, after all, the church and parish hall are almost 60 years old.
The installations are renewed and contaminated sites are removed.
An important message for Keller: "The community center will then be barrier-free, including the toilets that were previously in the basement."
For him it is “not a matter of course that the regional church is again so financially committed”.
It is her concern to strengthen the community life.
Nevertheless, it will not work without donations.
If you want to make your contribution, you can find more information on the homepage www.evkirche-erding.de.
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