As of: February 6, 2024, 11:07 a.m
By: Nadja Hoffmann
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Nasty sight: the historic Hertie at the main train station.
The construction site is now abandoned.
© Sleep
The collapse of the Signa empire also hits Munich hard.
Local politicians have many questions about the bankruptcies and their consequences.
Even if it is clear how little the city can achieve.
Berlin got it, as did Bolzano.
Construction sites are just as idle in Hamburg as in Vienna: the decline of the Signa empire is affecting cities in Germany, Austria and Italy.
Especially Munich.
The state capital also had to watch as projects became shattered dreams and beautiful houses became ruins.
Could politics have prevented all of this?
And can the state capital at least now have an influence?
The city council factions repeatedly requested information in several applications and inquiries.
These are now available in a bundled form in the planning committee: City planning officer Elisabeth Merk will give her opinion in the committee tomorrow, Wednesday.
She has a spark of hope in her luggage.
At least that's what you can read from her lecture, which is available to the Münchner Merkur.
Potential investors examine options
The head of department discusses, among other things, the Benko construction projects such as the Old Academy, the historic Hertie at the train station, the Kaut-Bullinger House and the former Karstadt on Schützenstrasse.
All houses that are empty.
A situation that, according to the administration, the people of Munich will have to endure “at least until the second half of 2024”.
But, and that sounds promising: “Due to the excellent location of the properties in downtown Munich that are up for grabs, there are already interested parties who are checking whether and under what conditions they could take on and continue individual projects.
“But names are not mentioned.
This is understandable, because the city is not directly involved in any of the Benko projects and does not own any land or real estate.
And that makes it clear: the town hall cannot interfere in private-sector matters.
And even when it comes to the Old Academy, which Signa received on a long-term lease from the Free State until 2079, Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) and the city council have their hands tied.
This became apparent when the Department of Urban Planning contacted the Free State in mid-December with various questions about the Old Academy.
Very little came back: only the answer that “due to the confidentiality of the contractual relationships, no information can be provided”.
City will not buy houses itself
The location of the Hertie at the train station is also difficult.
The ÖDP parliamentary group fears that the department store will degenerate into a “soulless office complex”.
The city at least makes it clear: all efforts to restore the former department store locations are supported.
However, it will not restrict future use through building regulations or purchase buildings itself.
Because: The urban development of the old town is not in itself unsafe.
As unpleasant as it is: Munich has to continue to endure Benko's ruins for now.