Cologne television tower Colonius: Refurbishment in a long way - financial worries?

Cologne television tower Colonius: Refurbishment in a long way - financial worries?

The reopening of the visitor platform on the television tower "Colonius" in Cologne is unlikely in the next few years. This was confirmed by a query of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger at the five largest factions in the city council. A new restaurant in the pulpit at a height of 166 meters is also unlikely. FDP parliamentary group leader Volker Görzel said that the city could not currently afford such prestige projects. Michael Weisenstein from the left emphasized that expenses for the project were not justified due to financial bottlenecks.

treasurer Dörte Diemert expects the city of Cologne with losses of 1.73 billion euros in the next five years. Many institutions and sponsors in the city have to do with less money and plan layoffs. The City Council of Cologne will decide on February 13th. The television tower belongs to the Deutsche Fundorm GmbH (DFMG) and not the city of Cologne. The gastronomy in the pulpit has been closed since 1994, private events ended in 1999.

discussion about the renovation and investment needs

The renovation of the Cologne television tower would cost 60 million euros, with the city to bear 15 million euros. The Council had linked 25 percent participation in the renovation costs of funding from the federal government (50%) and the state (25%). The monument protection is used as a lever for funding because the Cologne tower has been under protection for two years. The DFMG has created a feasibility study for reopening and is waiting for financial commitments from the city. The city emphasizes that the responsibility for the renovation is at DFMG.

In September there was a discussion about the renovation of the Cologne television tower in the city council, as t-online.de The tower, which is 266 meters high, offers a view of Cologne, but has been empty for decades due to fire protection defects. The colonius is a listed building. The city leases the property to Deutsche Funsturm GmbH. Investments of around 60 million euros are required for the renovation, whereby the city itself should only raise 15 million euros; The rest would be covered by funding from the federal and state governments. The approval of the Bundestag's budget committee is a prerequisite for funding.