Berlin Senate Locks Down Deal for Additional Refugee Housing on Tempelhofer Feld
Finally, following weeks of intense debate, the Berlin Senate has reached a settlement regarding the extension of container housing facilities for asylum seekers at Tempelhofer Feld. The Department of Labor and Social Affairs confirmed the development in a report by RBB on Wednesday. According to insiders within the Senate administration, the Senate Working Group reached a consensus on the required amendment to the Tempelhofer Feld Act on Tuesday.
The proposed amendment, which aims to lift the constraints hindering further development on the site, would enable the expansion of areas adjacent to Columbiadamm in northern Tempelhofer Feld for additional container accommodation. However, a potential location near Tempelhofer Damm in the south-west, which was also under consideration, is no longer an option, as suggested by Senate sources. In return, the possibility of developing a car park area in the direction of Tempelhofer Damm will be explored as compensation.
The Senate's agreement on refugee housing arrangements now requires Senate approval for the essential amendment to the Tempelhofer Feld Act. This approval may be granted by the German Senate, as they possess the authority to make decisions concerning refugee accommodation and development hubs like Tempelhofer Feld.
Considering the context, Tempelhofer Feld, the site of the former Tempelhof Airport, has been a topic of conversation for various purposes, including service as an emergency refugee shelter during the 2015 European migrant crisis. Simultaneously, negotiations between the Berlin Senate and the German Armed Forces revolve around creating new refugee accommodation on the site of the former Tegel Airport, not Tempelhofer Feld. This information indicates the mixed bag of plans and priorities for former airport sites, with the Tempelhofer Feld's specific details yet to be disclosed.
In light of the current tensions between reducing the dimensions of large-scale emergency shelters, emphasizing quality-assured, decentralized accommodation, as urged by Integration Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD), we can expect further improvements and adaptations in managing refugee accommodations. However, the concrete details for Tempelhofer Feld remain elusive.
