- Contestation over proposed refugee housing schemes in Lichtenberg
Lichtenberg's District Mayor, Martin Schaefer, expresses reservations towards the Berlin Senate's plan to utilize a hotel on Landsberger Allee as housing for up to 1,200 refugees. He argues, communicating with the German Press Agency, that while hotel accommodation may be superior to container living in terms of hygiene and food provision, the high concentration of people in a confined space raises concerns. Schaefer stresses the need for accompanying measures, but claims they have yet to be informed about such measures. He voices that Lichtenberg is more than willing to aid integration but is nearing its capacity, necessitating a fairer spread of refugees across the city.
Dissent and concerns within the District Parliament
Other parties and the Lichtenberg District Assembly likewise speak out against the project, expressing worries that it may exacerbate the burden on existing residents and hinder the necessary improvement of infrastructure. SPD politicians recently advocated for an immediate program to develop social amenities in the Hohenschönhausen neighborhood, focusing on school places, improved medical care, and better public transportation connections.
The SPD leaders of Lichtenberg, Tamara Lüdke and Erik Gührs, stated last week that the district stands for humane treatment of refugees in Berlin. They believe this goal can only be achieved if refugee lodgings do not add additional strain to existing residents and if they serve as a catalyst for infrastructure development. They also urged for better public communication regarding the project.
Protest rally called for by the AfD
The AfD faction in the district parliament has announced a rally this Thursday under the slogan "It's getting too much! Lichtenberg is full!" They have additionally requested a special session of the District Assembly on September 12 to discuss the topic. According to the AfD faction, existing refugee accommodations in the district are already placing a considerable strain on Lichtenberg, and they fear that the planned mass accommodation in the City Hotel on Landsberger Allee will compromise resident safety and result in insufficient healthcare, kindergartens, and schools within the area.
Berlin in search of alternative refugee housing solutions
Given the continuous arrival of refugees and the current housing of around 10,000 refugees in emergency shelters like Tegel and Tempelhof, Berlin is actively seeking more humane accommodation options. The State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF) anticipates that the hotel complex on Landsberger Allee, comprising three tall buildings, will accommodate 470 refugees towards the end of the year, potentially starting from November. This complex will be entirely rented out and handed over to an operator for ten years, with up to 800 residents initially housed after renovations in two buildings shortly after 2025. An additional 400 places might be added in the third building by 2026, reaching a total of 1,200.
Planning for necessary infrastructure
Infrastructure requirements will be addressed as part of this project, according to a LAF spokesperson. The LAF has already been planning for new facilities such as kindergartens or daycare centers in recent years. The LAF representative mentioned that opportunities for establishing learning spaces could be capitalized upon at the Landsberger Allee site, potentially including welcome classes for refugee children and youth.
Lichtenberg houses a significant number of refugees
More than 4,000 of the approximately 35,000 refugees living in regular LAF facilities throughout Berlin currently reside in the Lichtenberg district, making it one of the areas in Berlin hosting a substantial number of refugees. Following Pankow, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, and Tempelhof-Schoeneberg, Lichtenberg falls among the districts accommodating a large number of refugees. Three of the 16 container villages decided to be built by 2025/26, with a total capacity of 1,280 positions, are situated in Lichtenberg.
The Senate of Berlin, despite facing criticism from Lichtenberg's District Mayor and other local parties, continues its search for alternative refugee housing solutions. The Hotel on Landsberger Allee, planned to accommodate up to 1,200 refugees, has sparked concerns about the burden on existing residents and infrastructure within The Senate of Berlin's jurisdiction.
