Coty site in Cologne: renaming due to a burdened history?

Coty site in Cologne: renaming due to a burdened history?

The Coty site in Cologne-Ehrenfeld is currently causing a lot of conversation. The reasons for this are not only the planned developments, but above all the controversial past of the company's founder Francois Coty, who is known as a propagandist of anti-communist, anti-Semitic and fascist ideas. The Greens in the district council are therefore calling for an urgent renaming of the area, which was used by the cosmetics company Coty until 2021. Around 1,900 apartments as well as areas for business, culture and leisure are soon to be built here, which is further fueling the discussion.

The 17-acre site, which has been inaccessible for decades, is now under the management of new owner Instone Real Estate. In cooperation with the citizens, he developed a planning concept that received positive feedback from both politicians and the city administration. But the question is repeatedly raised as to whether the name “Coty-Gelände” can be the right name for this up-and-coming urban district, given the shady history of its namesake. Tobias Scholz from the Greens pointed out the problematic aspects of Coty's biography in a recent application. His founding of a right-wing extremist paramilitary organization in the 1930s particularly caused a stir. Antenne NRW reports that the parliamentary group has requested that the name no longer be used in official documents because there is no historical connection between the Coty Group and Cologne.

Name change – but how?

But what are possible alternatives for the new name? Suggestions that relate to local traditions are being discussed. Examples include the traditional Cologne company 4711 or successful references to local industrial history such as the brickworks or the Mauser factory. In recent weeks it has become clear that district officials believe a rapid renaming is important to prevent the name “Coty” from continuing to circulate. The Rundschau emphasizes that the city administration will initiate a citizen participation process to find a name, which could bring in further perspectives and suggestions from the population.

The debate surrounding the name change shows how important it is to also consider the historical context when developing cities. Deutschlandfunk highlights in a context that urban naming is often a reflection of social changes. This not only applies to Cologne, but also in other cities there is currently discussion about contaminated namesakes and solutions are being sought. Renaming therefore not only has local significance, but also reflects a growing awareness of social responsibility.

The future of the Coty site in Ehrenfeld is not just a question of urban development, but also about what stories the names of our cities tell and what values ​​we want to represent. The next few months will show how this discussion develops and what name the new urban district will ultimately be given.