Another refugee accommodation will soon be opening in Peißenberg – in one of the former “Steigerhäuser” on Schachtstrasse. At a residents' meeting, to which the district office had invited, there was criticism, but also appeals to welcome the asylum seekers with open arms.
Peißenberg - Five years ago, the fate of the old residential building, which dates back to the mining era, on the corner of Schachtstrasse and Glückaufstrasse (house numbers one to three) seemed to have already been sealed: a preliminary decision application was waved through in the market council at the time, according to which two buildings would be demolished and built Apartment buildings should be done. But nothing was built. The building, one of four former “Steigerhausen”, fell into a deep sleep. But now the old walls are coming back to life: the owner has offered the property to the district office to accommodate refugees - and the district authority didn't say no.
Property was offered
“We are desperately looking for living space,” explains Bernhard Pössinger, an employee in the “Integration and Asylum” department. The district is pursuing a strategy of decentralized accommodation with mixed occupancy (families, individuals, different religions and nationalities). Large accommodation and the use of public facilities such as gyms should be avoided. The apartment block on Schachtstrasse fits the concept well. The district office has concluded a rental agreement with the owner that runs until 2027 - with an option to extend. The six completed residential units will be available to move into little by little from the beginning or middle of May - depending on the status of the renovation. Theoretically, the maximum occupancy would be 50 people. According to Pössinger, however, the number will be “significantly lower”: “38 to 40 people will move in.”
Questionable statements
Pössinger confirmed this at a residents' meeting, to which the press was also invited. The district office strives to ensure the greatest possible transparency. “There are a lot of untruths being told about the subject of ‘asylum’,” stated Pössinger at the information event in the “Flöz” community center. The mood among the 30 or so residents present was mixed. Despite Pössinger's request not to make any political statements and to remain objective, there were one or two questionable comments that caused some meeting participants to shake their heads and express their displeasure. For example, one resident called for people to vote for the party “that is really there for Germany” in the European elections. It was also heard that the refugee accommodation would make the houses in the area unsaleable and their value would decrease by at least a third. There was also talk of a “revenge action” by the owner because he was not allowed to build the way he wanted due to flood protection requirements. The deal with the district office is also nothing more than a “profiteering scheme”. And in general: There is no longer any living space available for young German families.
Counteracted with facts
Pössinger, flanked by Mayor Frank Zellner, countered with facts. Only contracts at local rental prices would be signed by the district office. “Nobody gets enriched there,” says Pössinger. In addition, the acquisition of refugee accommodation would be limited to vacant properties. “The owners wouldn't rent to anyone else.” Pössinger cited the Plötzbräu restaurant on the main street, which has been abandoned for years, as an example: “It would still be empty in ten years if refugees didn't move in. Would vacancy be better?” Pössinger also responded to criticism that the building on Schachtstrasse was structurally dilapidated and no longer suitable for residential purposes. Accordingly, most of the residential units have already been renovated. Everything will be restored to a “livable condition”. However, the district office will carry out another inspection of the building structure. Frank Zellner assured that the owner could very well have built to the existing dimensions. However, the project was simply not pursued further - without there being a blockade by the municipality or the district office.
Pössinger emphasized that no additional container buildings would be set up next to the house and that the accommodation would be looked after by the authorities. The residents would also “not be left alone”. Pössinger asked “not to generalize”: “It’s not just serious criminals coming, but people.” And: “You’ll see: it will work.” Pössinger referred to the accommodation on Gümbelstrasse. There are no problems there and no police operations whatsoever. Pössinger offered to organize an “open day” to get to know each other in the new refugee accommodation.
Reconciliatory end
The meeting finally came to a conciliatory end. A visitor thanked the district office for the information event and pointed out that the integration of Ukrainian refugees in the area had worked wonderfully so far. Another participant appealed to the meeting to approach the refugees openly – “and not to say from the start, 'We don't want you here'. Let’s see how it works first.” Frank Zellner also called for people to “approach the matter in solidarity.” And then Anne Hosse, representative of the neighboring senior citizens' home (Josef-Lindauer-Haus), spoke up: “We have to take in the refugees. I'm assuming everything will be fine. And that’s why I can’t really get too upset about it,” said the board member of the Paula Lindauer Foundation.