Rollin' Out the Welcome Mat: 1,000+ Refugee Housing Containers Coming to Tempelhofer Field
Additional refugee housing units installed on Tempelhofer Field - Additional refugee shelters established on the Tempelhofer Field
Gear up, Berlin! Tempelhofer Field is about to get a whole lot cozier for refugees seeking a new home. The Senate's latest meet-up brought the joyous news, and Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) spilled the beans. This wooden wonder world for refugees is expected to welcome its first residents in the middle of 2028, accommodating between 1,000 and 1,100 weary souls.
Don't worry, sports and leisure buddies, all your favorite spots will remain intact. However, we'll have to shift a mini-golf course and some barbecue areas to make room for the new digs. The expansion won't encroach upon the lands of the former NS forced labor camp, rest assured.
Now, here's the real deal: why the sudden housing surge? Because, as Kiziltepe pointed out, there's still a shortage of suitable accommodations in the regular refugee housing spaces run by the State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF).
Tempelhofer Field: The Future Refugee Haven
- Location: Tempelhofer Field, Berlin
- Political Rep: Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD)
- Expected Occupancy: 1,000-1,100 refugees
- Opening Timeline: Second half of 2028
- Housing Style: Container-based dwellings
A Few Insights from the Back Pocket
While we're throwing words around, a bit of context: this new refugee accommodation expansion comes with a twist. Tempelhofer Field, once an airport and a labor camp under the Nazis, is protected by a 2014 law that bans new construction. But who needs laws when you've got refugees to house? The law is being overridden to make space for migrant housing development.
On the bright side, the sports and leisure areas will remain largely untouched, with the exception of the mini-golf course and barbecue lawn being relocated to accommodates the new housing facilities. The sensitive areas of the former forced labor camp will also be preserved.
All this is happening despite ongoing debates regarding the use of Tempelhofer Field to address local housing shortages. The refugee accommodation plan will move forward regardless of whether or not a public referendum is held, which unfortunately won't take place until at least September. So, sit tight, Berlin. The refugees are on their way!
- The current shortage of suitable accommodations in regular refugee housing spaces run by the State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF) has led to a need for alternative housing solutions, such as the 1,000-1,100 container-based dwellings planned for Tempelhofer Field in Berlin.
- The expansion of refugee accommodations at Tempelhofer Field is a political decision, as it involves overriding a 2014 law that bans new construction on the site, in order to accommodate migrants seeking shelter.
