Multi-million dollar agreement on Hollerweg up for debate: Regensburg city dismisses criticism as unjustified
In the summer of 2022, the city of Regensburg made a significant acquisition, purchasing a 2.2-hectare area on Hollerweg. The purchase, which nearly doubled the scope of the ongoing development plan procedure, has sparked interest and debate among experts and residents alike.
The specific departments involved in the assessment of the site following the city's acquisition include the Department of Public Safety and Order, the Department of Urban Land Management, and the Environmental Department. These departments collaborate to assess the site for environmental, safety, and urban development concerns.
Prior to the purchase, the Liegenschaftsamt, Bauordnungsamt (Umlegungsstelle), and Stadtplanungsamt conducted inspections of the area. An originally anonymous notification regarding nature and species protection was forwarded to the city planning department on 02.02.2022.
During a visit to the area with experts, it was determined that the area is likely sand-poor grassland. This conclusion is based on the presence of nine plant species that indicate sand-poor grassland, including the heath cranesbill, a species protected under the Federal Nature Conservation Act. However, the city has stated that sand-poor grassland is difficult to recognize, a claim disputed by experts as "nonsense."
Mapping of the area is usually done during the growing period from mid-April to mid-October, with the flowering time of the value-determining species or mapping before mowing being preferred. The species tufted vetch, a key indicator of sand-poor grassland, was mapped by an expert firm on 6.5.2022, but was hardly visible on 21.5.2022. Mapping this species in June/July is a significantly greater challenge.
Conversations with residents revealed that a grass snake and the white woodpecker had been seen on the area. The city made the acquisition because it significantly expanded the city's property and was part of its strategic urban development plans.
It is important to note that no pre-emption right was exercised in the purchase of the area by the city of Regensburg. The city is not aware of any negotiations with external interested parties regarding the purchase of the area.
A comprehensive mapping of the biotope has been carried out, and an evaluation will be part of the environmental review. The updated biotope mapping is expected to be presented after the summer break.
In the meantime, the fields 1444/10, 1444/11, and 1443 have belonged to the city of Regensburg since the end of the 1930s. Fields 1446 and 1446/3 were purchased by the city in the year 2020, while fields 1446/1 and 1466/2 were purchased in July 2022. The remaining fields 1436, 1437, and 1438 belong to a private investor.
The city's acquisition of the 2.2-hectare area on Hollerweg and the subsequent debate over the presence of sand-poor grassland underscores the importance of careful evaluation and collaboration between experts, city officials, and residents in urban development projects.
The acquisition of the 2.2-hectare area on Hollerweg by the city of Regensburg has sparked interest in the realm of real-estate investing, as it significantly expanded the city's property. Furthermore, the evaluation of the site's environment and urban development potential is a collaborative effort between the Department of Public Safety and Order, the Department of Urban Land Management, the Environmental Department, and several other city departments.
