Planned Residential Area At Risk Due to Lack of Investor Interest in Traditional GDR, Potential Demolition Looming?
From "Apachen Hill" to "Quartier Seeblick": Revisiting Schwerin's Upscale Housing Dream
It's been a hot minute since the buzz about turning the crumbling ruins of the old "Apachen Hill" in Schwerin's Neu Zippendorf district into the swanky "Quartier Seeblick" generated headlines. But not much seems to have moved since then. The hulking school remains, its decaying walls standing stoically on Am Hang Street.
City bullish on the project's appeal
The developer behind the project is reportedly undergoing a restructuring phase, Urban Development and Economy Chief Andreas Thiele confirms. Still, the city is holding tight to its belief in the property's attractiveness, fingers crossed for the project to finally take off.
The vision for "Quartier Seeblick" encompasses a collection of three to seven-story modular buildings sporting a grand total of 250 residential units—quite the contrast to the Marxist-Leninist teachings that once echoed through these walls. The grand project is estimated to set the city back a cool 70 million euros.
Mayor's local envoy questioning the plan
Marco Rauch, chairman of the local representative body for Neu Zippendorf, is feeling rather skeptical about the whole affair. According to Rauch, the project seems to be on hold, with whispers of the investor being financially stretched thin. Our multiple attempts to reach the investor yielded nothing but crickets.
This isn't the first time the "Apachen Hill" has been given a new lease on life, what with a Berlin-based real estate company snapping up the 20,000-square-meter area for a shot at landing the new headquarters for Schwerin's employment agency and job center. But alas, Mendelejewstraße in Mueßer Holz proved to be their lucky destination.
History: A school with many chapters
The Neu Zippendorf district party school first opened its doors in 1979, complete with dorms, cafeteria, café, and an auditorium for 500 students. After the Wende, it landed in the hands of the Treuhand, and in December 1992, the Schweriner Grundgesellschaft, a city subsidiary, nabbed the property for approximately 26 million marks.
From 1993 to 2000, the Federal Higher School for Employment Administration took up residence in the buildings. Despite the city's struggles, the Grundgesellschaft found itself in a financial pickle, and in 1996, the Wohnungsgesellschaft Schwerin (WGS) swooped in and took over 98% of the shares, saddled with a hefty debt load. Since the federal school's departure, the property has sat deserted.
Youngsters drawn to the ruins, dangers aplenty
Throughout the years, young adventurers have been lured by the crumbling walls, despite the area being fenced off. Arson attempts have plagued the property, while the police and community order office remain ever vigilant.
Rauch puts forth a strong argument, proclaiming that the city can't afford to twiddle its thumbs and allow the age-old party school to crumble. "We've got to make a move on the neighborhood," he says. At the next meeting of the local representative body, scheduled for September 17, 6 pm sharp at the Alte Post am Berliner Platz, Rauch intends to kickstart discussions on the area's future development and engage with interested parties.
The city's economic department is keen on the potential of the "Quartier Seeblick" project, especially considering the significant investment of 70 million euros needed for its execution.
Marco Rauch, the chairman of the local representative body for Neu Zippendorf, has voiced concerns about the project's progress, questioning the financial stability of the investor, and suggesting the need for urgent action to revitalize the area.
