Citizens' house in Olpe before the end: cost explosion brings plans to fall!

Citizens' house in Olpe before the end: cost explosion brings plans to fall!

The plans for the new community center in Olpe are in front of that. Mayor Peter Weber and the city of Olpe announced this in a current press release. The cost of the construction project has risen and now amount to 49 million euros, while the original budget of 25.5 million euros is significantly exceeded. Although savings potential was determined at 42 million euros, the city administration is increasingly concerned about the financial burden in view of the current situation.

A reduced variant of the project, which does not require the originally planned museum, would currently cost 35 million euros. The CDU Mayor Weber is open to alternative approaches and plans to propose the Environment, Planning, Building and the City Council Assembly, to set the plans for the community center. Various alternatives were discussed in previous sessions, which in all likelihood were considered unrealistic or economically unacceptable.

increasing construction costs as a challenge

The persistent cost increases are not just a local problem. The main committee of the German City Day has also commented on the price increases in construction. These developments endanger the completion and the new start of numerous construction projects. On this basis, the Federal Government emphasized the need to improve the application of the fabric price sliding clauses for public orders in order to offer the municipalities a sustainable planning basis, especially in the context of the current construction expenses.

Especially since the beginning of the plans, the cost estimate for the community center has changed significantly. The latest estimates are now around 33.3 million euros, while in December 2022 an in -depth cost estimate of around 29.7 million euros was submitted. These figures make it clear that the costs have increased by the initial estimates of around 3.6 million euros, with further increases to be expected in the coming months.

alternative concepts in urban planning

In order to counteract the increased construction costs, Weber is thinking about a new approach for the settlement of the city administration. The focus could be on the use of the district house in Olpe. The move of the specialist service "Fire and population protection, emergency services" after completion of the danger defense center would create additional space in the district house. The city administration plans to accommodate departments without direct citizenship in the district house in order to avoid the high costs for new buildings and at the same time ensure a sensible urban development.

The use of the large meeting room of the district as a new council hall is also conceivable. With regard to the civil services, administrative areas with frequent citizen contact, such as the citizens' office, the city library and the registry office, will be located on the old Olper Bahnhofstrasse. An extension in the form of an extension at the old train station is also planned here.

The Environment Committee, Planning, Bauen will advise on March 27 on the ceasing of previous plans. The final decision is to be made on April 2, with the administration will further work out a new concept in coordination with the Olpe district. These measures make it clear that the city of Olpe is trying to find constructive and economically viable solutions in order to meet the current challenges in construction.