Former Goebbels Villa - Wegner: Development of the Bodensee area for Berlin too expensive
The exploration of the area around the Bergsee with the former Villa of NS-Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels would be too big a number for Berlin, according to the Governing Mayor Kai Wegner's conviction, during the "Kai Wegner vor Ort" dialogue in Prenzlauer Berg. The total area would cost 300 million Euros. That is a magnitude that we cannot afford from the state budget, definitively. That is completely excluded.
Wegner: We cannot do anything there
The Governing Mayor referred to Berlin's Finance Senator Stefan Evers' offer from early May to give away the area if necessary. Wegner said that the Federal Government or Brandenburg State could engage instead. "We ourselves as Berlin cannot do anything there, given the budget situation. We have to prioritize other things."
The approximately 17-hectare plot, on which Goebbels built a country house, has been unused and deteriorating since 2000. After the end of the NS dictatorship, the Allies used the land briefly as a hospital. In 1946, the Soviets then transferred the property to the Free German Youth (FDJ), who built a youth university there.
Ideas for use have been discussed again and again
Use concepts for the area have been discussed again and again for a long time. A viable concept has not been found yet. Berlin is considering demolishing the buildings and re-naturalizing the land - just to save costs for security and maintenance.
Wegner was a guest at the Wednesday evening event in the Pankow district as part of his dialogue series. Citizens had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss with the Governing Mayor. It was Wegner's fourth event of this kind. Most recently, he was in Reinickendorf, before that in Treptow-Köpenick, and at the beginning of April in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.
- Despite the rich history of Prenzlauer Berg, specifically the Bergsee area with the former Villa of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, Kai Wegner, the Governing Mayor of Berlin, believes that the immense cost of exploration, estimated at 300 million Euros, is beyond Berlin's state budget.
- Wegner mentioned the Finance Senator Stefan Evers' offer from May to relinquish the area if necessary, suggesting that either the Federal Government or Brandenburg State could take on the project instead.
- The plot of approximately 17 hectares, where Goebbels built his country house, has been unused and in a state of decay since 2000. After the end of the Nazi dictatorship, the Allies temporarily used the land as a hospital, and later, the Soviets transferred the property to the Free German Youth (FDJ), who constructed a youth university there.
- Concepts for the area's use have been under consideration for an extended period, yet a feasible plan has not been established to date. Berlin is contemplating removing the buildings and re-naturizing the land to reduce costs associated with security and maintenance.
- Wegner, as part of his dialogue series, attended a Wednesday evening event in the Pankow district, providing an opportunity for citizens to engage in dialogue and ask questions about the area's potential development.
- This was not the first event for Wegner in this series; he previously held dialogues in Reinickendorf, Treptow-Köpenick, and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in April, demonstrating his commitment to engaging residents in local decision-making processes in Berlin and neighboring municipalities like Brandenburg.
