Cologne is planning an expensive container fire station: 26.5 million euros at stake!

Cologne is planning an expensive container fire station: 26.5 million euros at stake!

The city of Cologne is faced with a costly decision: the new interim fire station will cost an impressive 26.5 million euros. These costs relate to the planned container facility that is to be built along Löwengasse. The Cologne city council will vote on the project on July 3rd, which is important for quick access to the work sites during the upcoming construction period. The old fire station 1 will be demolished to make room for a new building, which is expected to take around ten years. The decision about the location and the budget is by no means trivial and is being intensively discussed in the city.

Against the background of these developments, the former Kaufhof headquarters on Leonard-Tietz-Straße was initially discussed as an interim location. However, the renovation costs would rise to around 35 million euros, which prompted the city administration to change strategy. The container station on Löwengasse was chosen as a cost-effective solution because it is approximately 600 meters away from the city center station.

Criticism of the rental agreement

However, the plans are not without controversy. Head of the building department Markus Greitemann and city director Andrea Blome are faced with strong dissatisfaction because the rental agreement with Agrippa Quartier GmbH & Co. puts additional financial pressure on the city. With the contract, which was approved by the city council three years ago, the city commits to rent payments totaling around 310 million euros by 2050. There is now talk of a further 50 million euros for the renovation, supplemented by a hoped-for five-year extension of the rental agreement.

The city plans to exchange land with Cascade 2 GmbH to create the necessary space for the fire station. This GmbH has agreed to make its space available free of charge for around ten years, which will make the construction of the fire department on Löwengasse much easier.

Modern construction for the fire department

The planned interim guardhouse will be designed as a modern container facility. The design is created using system construction, which emphasizes cost-effective construction methods without sacrificing quality. HaCoBau GmbH is being considered as a partner for modular fire stations. These can be realized from a size of 30 m² for individual boxes or over 200 m² for larger systems. Thanks to the existing type statics, preliminary construction costs are reduced and approval times are shortened.

The interim fire station is not only a project to address the acute spatial need, but also a milestone for the technical upgrade of the Cologne fire department. Fire Station 1, which has been in operation since 1962 and houses many of the city's 160 firefighters, is in urgent need of modernization. The new building will further optimize operational readiness in the city center.

Overall, the upcoming decisions show that the city of Cologne is interested in both strengthening the fire department's operational capabilities and dealing responsibly with the city's finances. While the cost of the interim fire station appears high, the focus is on forward-looking planning and the long-term savings that can be achieved through the new equipment and structure.

The next steps are clear: On July 3rd, the city council will decide whether this costly but necessary step for the Cologne fire department can be taken. An exciting date that is of great importance for both the emergency services and the city residents.