Cost explosion in Cologne: Interim fire station strikes with 26.5 million!

Cost explosion in Cologne: Interim fire station strikes with 26.5 million!

in Cologne are currently ambitious construction projects on the agenda, but the costs are formally exploding. The interim fire station on the Severinsbrücke is to burden the Cologne city budget with around 26.5 million euros. On July 3, the city council will vote on whether the financing for planning and construction on the green area on Löwengasse will be approved. This location, about 600 meters from the inner city guard, will be used for the next ten years, while the construction of the fire station is also being planned, the construction period of which is also scheduled for ten years.

The cost of the container guard comes the rental of the former Kaufhof headquarters on Leonhard-Tatz-Straße, which, according to the first estimates, will put a whopping 50 million euros. Original plans provided for renovation costs of 27 million euros, but these have now risen to 77 million euros. The rental agreement is now to be extended by five years by December 31, 2050. These changes have far -reaching financial consequences for the city, because a total of Cologne could pay over 300 million euros in rent until the contract expires. According to Rundschau Online, the city will have to expect costs of 12.3 million euros for the first full rental year.

lasting criticism and uncertainties

The situation is considered by building head Markus Greitemann and city director Andrea Blome with suspicion. A rental agreement with Agrippa Quartier GmbH & Co., which was agreed three years ago, is increasingly in public discussion in view of the additional funds that have now been necessary. The fact that the city does not have all the areas on Löwengasse itself also causes confusion. An exchange of space with Cascade 2 GmbH is planned, whereby this is ready to make your areas available free of charge for about ten years.

The additional costs for the conversion of the Kaufhof headquarters are caused by various factors. The additional costs are due to a fifth, while another part of increased requirements for security technology and IT equipment originates. Delays have led to the handover of the pre -booked rooms not as planned in January 2024, but probably only in the fourth quarter of 2026.

construction and infrastructure in change

infrastructural changes require a focused approach. According to the experts from the German Institute for Standardization, it is crucial to re-evaluate the framework conditions of energy, heat and water supply as well as wastewater disposal within cities. While social infrastructures and everyday mobility are developing, it remains unclear how this will affect the designs and future urban design. All the more important are reliable urban planning values ​​and the analysis of best practices to estimate future needs and development, emphasized [difu] (https://difu.de/projekte/infrastructure-und-stadt development).

With the decision about the necessary financial resources on July 3, it should be shown how the city of Cologne will deal with these challenges and what the course is set for future development. Until then, the city administration remains required to find creative solutions in order to keep the costs in the framework and ensure the urgently needed infrastructure.