Sternbrücke in danger: Green plan for Altona's Highline causes controversy!

Sternbrücke in danger: Green plan for Altona's Highline causes controversy!

There is a lot of simmering in Altona: the idea of ​​converting parts of the historic Sternbrücke into a so-called highline is giving rise to numerous discussions. Inspired by the famous Highline Park in New York, this renovation could permanently change the district. But there is skepticism and resistance from various quarters. So reported developmentcity.de, that local concerns primarily relate to accessibility, security aspects and uncertain financing.

The majority of the district assembly is optimistic and supports the Greens' proposal, but political support at the state level remains questionable. While the urban development authority rejects the Highline variant and sees the park as the heart of the new urban district, it argues that the massive construction would affect the open green spaces. So wird auch auf dunkle Bereiche unter der Plattform verwiesen, die als potentielle Angsträume gelten.

A controversial new building

The new construction of the Sternbrücke, built in 1893, is already being planned; Deutsche Bahn has the ambition to spend around 125 million euros on a modern tied arch bridge. The Greens, on the other hand, have the vision of using parts of the old bridge and creating a two-kilometer-long viewing platform with a hiking trail on the former ICE route. This “Highline” is intended to offer Altona’s citizens an oasis of peace and breathtaking views, as Christian Trede from the Green Party explains. But CDU politician Sven Hielscher is critical of these plans. He describes the project as “Kokolores” and warns of possible noise nuisance for residents if new pedestrian flows flood through the district.

Hielscher estimates the cost of implementing the idea at 20 to 30 million euros. Deutsche Bahn would also be required to provide the financing, but it has not agreed to cover the costs. These uncertainties lead to further discussions about the feasibility of the entire project. With a view to safety and possible asbestos problems in the old structures, accessibility is also one of the important issues: Staircases should be planned for the new paths, but this brings with it additional challenges.

The future of the bridge

The uncertainties surrounding financing and the clear negative attitude on the part of the urban development authority are fueling the discourse about the future of the Sternbrücke. However, the suggestions for reusing the bridge parts could stimulate the discussion and should not be dismissed too quickly. The Senate, together with the district, would have to find ways to convince Deutsche Bahn of reuse. The goal remains to use old structures sensibly and combine them with new ideas.

How the situation develops remains to be seen. The city faces the challenge of combining tradition and innovation, and while some proposals are considered “crazy,” creative solutions could ultimately enrich the Altona district. The question for citizens remains how much freedom can be afforded in the planning of urban spaces without losing sight of the needs of local residents. It remains exciting to see what will happen here in the coming months.