Former Refugee Shelter in Rissen to be Demolished, Not Converted for Student Housing
Hamburg, July 15 – The former refugee shelter at Sieversstücken in the Rissener Feldmark is slated for demolition, with the Altona district assembly rejecting plans for its continued use as student housing. This decision goes against a social initiative proposed by the Hamburg-Mitte chapter of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB).
ASB’s Socially-Minded Proposal
The ASB had envisioned converting the 15 wooden houses, located between Rissen and Sülldorf, into affordable accommodation for up to 120 students or apprentices. The plan included single rooms for a cold rent of 270 euros, with residents committing to ten hours of voluntary work per month for those in need across Hamburg. Günter Arndt, head of the local ASB chapter, described the project as “exemplary, social, and sustainable” to NDR 90.3.
Long-Term Lease and District Opposition
The ASB had already secured a 20-year lease for the houses and the land. However, the district of Altona, with its Green, SPD, and CDU factions, is calling for the immediate demolition of the buildings. Dana Vornhagen (Greens) stated, “The Feldmark is a natural area that must be preserved in its character.” This stance is reinforced by an addendum to the Rissen citizens’ agreement from 2022, which stipulates that the shelter should be dismantled as of April.
ASB Plans New Application
The ASB had hoped to sway political opinion but was unsuccessful. Arndt admitted to NDR 90.3, “We did a poor job and did not adequately inform the Altona building committee.” He now intends to rectify this by submitting a new application for the use of the houses as affordable student accommodation.
Broader Context: Wind Turbine Construction and Other Hamburg News
In related news, Hamburg’s Senate is reducing the number of potential areas for wind turbine construction, with up to a third of the 19 initially identified sites now deemed unsuitable. Meanwhile, the city continues to see high visitor numbers in its city center despite the new Westfield Center in HafenCity. Moia has also commenced test operations with passengers in autonomous minibuses, albeit with significant delays and fewer vehicles than initially planned. In legal developments, three men have been sentenced to prison for a brutal assault on an 81-year-old, and an attack on a train conductor in Hamburg-Neugraben is under investigation.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/rissen-gefluechteten-unterkunft-wird-nicht-weiter-genutzt,asb-106.html
