Cost explosion in Cologne: interim fire station strikes at 26.5 million!

Cost explosion in Cologne: interim fire station strikes at 26.5 million!

There are currently ambitious construction projects on the agenda in Cologne, but the costs are literally exploding. The interim fire station at Severinsbrücke is expected to burden Cologne's city budget with around 26.5 million euros. On July 3rd, the city council will vote on whether to approve financing for planning and construction on the green space on Löwengasse. This location, about 600 meters from the city center station, will be used for the next ten years, while at the same time the new fire station is being planned, the construction time of which is also set for ten years.

In addition to the costs for the container guard, there is also the rental of the former Kaufhof headquarters on Leonhard-Tietz-Straße, which, according to initial estimates, will burden the city of Cologne by a whopping additional 50 million euros. Original plans called 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 until December 31, 2050. These changes have far-reaching financial consequences for the city, as Cologne could pay a total of 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 in 2027.

Ongoing criticism and insecurities

The situation is viewed with suspicion by building department head Markus Greitemann and city director Andrea Blome. A rental agreement with Agrippa Quartier GmbH & Co., which was agreed three years ago, is increasingly becoming the subject of public discussion in view of the additional funds now required. The fact that the city itself does not own all of the land on Löwengasse also causes confusion. An exchange of space with Cascade 2 GmbH is planned, whereby the latter is prepared to make its space available free of charge for around ten years.

The additional costs for the renovation of the Kaufhof headquarters are due to various factors. A fifth of the additional costs can be attributed to loss of rent, while another part comes from increased requirements for security technology and IT equipment. Delays have meant that the handover of the pre-booked rooms will not take place as planned in January 2024, but will probably only take place in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Construction and infrastructure in transition

Given the ambivalent financial situation worldwide, infrastructural changes require a focused approach. According to the experts at the German Institute for Standardization, it is crucial to reassess the framework conditions for energy, heat and water supply as well as wastewater disposal within cities. As social infrastructures and everyday mobility continue to evolve, it remains unclear how this will impact building forms and future urban design. This makes reliable urban development orientation values ​​and the analysis of best practices for assessing future needs and development all the more important, emphasizes DIFU.

The decision on the necessary financial resources on July 3rd should show how the city of Cologne will deal with these challenges and what course will be set for future development. Until then, the city administration will be required to find creative solutions to keep costs under control and to ensure the urgently needed infrastructure.