Standstill at the New Garden City Öjendorf: Hamburg's dream home in danger

Standstill at the New Garden City Öjendorf: Hamburg's dream home in danger

Housing construction is increasingly becoming an issue in Hamburg. Particularly at the forefront is the new construction project “Neue Gartenstadt Öjendorf” near Billstedt, which has been on hold for years. Originally advertised with the slogan “Great potential for Hamburg”, the basic idea of ​​a contemporary and affordable housing offer for the Hanseatic city seems to be becoming more and more distant. The possibility of living in one of the planned 2,200 new apartments remains a distant goal as the start of construction is still “unforeseeable”. NDR reports on these difficulties and the associated need to create new framework conditions in order to finally get the various project participants on board.

The project, which is planned on agricultural land north of Glinder Straße between Jenfelder Bach and Kolbargredder, has great development potential. In particular, the aim is to integrate the “Horner Geest” landscape axis. The urban development authority works in close coordination with the Hamburg-Mitte district office and has already drawn up a framework plan on which comments and information could be submitted until December 6, 2022. The contributions received are still being examined. Hamburg.de emphasizes that the development is based on a “Letter of Intent” between the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and a consortium of housing companies.

Criticism and challenges

The CDU has spoken out emphatically about the delays. Anke Frieling, the parliamentary group's construction policy spokeswoman, is calling for faster implementation, while Joseph Johannsen, deputy parliamentary group leader, suggests not only creating social housing, but also offering high-quality living space. The CDU in the Mitte district criticizes the concept as inadequate and failed. The main problems are the lack of access to land - one owner apparently does not want to sell his land - and drainage problems, which significantly increase the costs of the project. NDR examines these challenges in detail.

Despite these difficulties, the construction does not stand still. Hamburg's residential projects, which will be realized in 2024, show that the city continues to pursue ambitious plans. For example, over 8,300 new apartments were completed throughout Hamburg, which corresponds to an increase of 39 percent compared to the previous year. These construction projects include, among other things, the construction of social housing and the creation of contemporary forms of housing. Development City provides an overview of the diverse projects that are being planned in the Hanseatic city.

Conclusion

The situation surrounding the “New Garden City Öjendorf” makes it clear that the issue of housing construction is a high priority in Hamburg – despite all the hurdles. The will for change is there, but a clear plan and coordinated efforts are needed to realize the vision of a livable and affordable residential landscape for all Hamburg residents. It remains to be seen whether we will be able to overcome the challenges and bring the once promising project to life.