Sale of the criminal justice center: Reiter calls for a stop to more living space!

Sale of the criminal justice center: Reiter calls for a stop to more living space!

In Munich, plans for the sale of the “old” criminal justice center on Nymphenburger Strasse are on the brink. Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) made it clear in an open letter to Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) that he rejects the state government's initiative. “We must not allow gentrification to progress in Maxvorstadt and thus hinder the creation of affordable housing,” said Reiter in his remarks. Reiter's concerns are not unfounded, as the sale could have far-reaching consequences for the tense housing situation in the state capital. In addition, the SPD Maxvorstadt has called on those responsible to consider stopping sales and to focus on building apartments instead, tz.de reported.

This step by Reiter may be seen as a party political action, but other parties such as the Munich Greens also support his concerns. Green party leader Svenja Jarchow described the planned sale as a “slap in the face” for all Munich residents who are looking for affordable housing. Instead of selling the property to private investors, the Greens are calling for a concrete opportunity to create affordable apartments in Munich. Söder and Construction Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU), on the other hand, argue that the sale is necessary due to a strained budget situation, which only fuels the critics even more.

The sales plan and its critics

The topic of plans to sell public land came up a few years ago, which led to a loss of trust in politicians. The experiences from the sale of GBW apartments over ten years ago left deep marks, and such negative experiences must not be allowed to happen again, Reiter points out. Instead, the Free State must show a good hand and use the former court area for housing construction in order to offer young people and families in particular a perspective.

A constructive dialogue between the city and the state is considered essential. Reiter commissioned the planning authority to intensify discussions and strive for concrete solutions to create living space. The original plan was to convert the criminal justice center into a residential complex - plans that have now been pushed into the background to make way for the state government's sales plan abendzeitung-muenchen.de

The challenges of the housing market

But where are all these discussions leading? The creation of living space remains a central issue in Munich, and the Free State has promised to create more affordable housing - for example on the former Osram site in the “Living Isar” project. 420 apartments are to be built here, including 66 subsidized units with reasonable rental prices starting at 5.85 euros per square meter. This project is a small ray of hope amidst the major challenges facing the Munich housing market bayern.de.

As the debates surrounding the criminal justice center show, the fight for affordable housing remains a central social concern in Munich. The city administration and the state government are faced with the task of finding solutions that meet the needs of the population while taking economic constraints into account.