Frankfurt's Cultural Mile: Redefining Opera and Theater Spaces
The city of Frankfurt, located in the heart of Hesse, is eager for both the federal and the state government to chip in towards the estimated 1.3 billion euros in construction costs for its new municipal theaters. The reason behind this tremendous financial backing is the substantial number of visitors hailing from the surrounding areas who regularly attend performances.
Frankfurt's upcoming Hessian state government, composed of the CDU and SPD, shows willingness to engage in discussions about the future structure of Frankfurt’s municipal stages. According to the draft coalition agreement, they aim to collaborate with Frankfurt in determining the structural future of its municipal theaters, as they play a significant role in Hesse's overall cultural landscape, transcending the city limits.
Although Frankfurt has been deliberating on its municipal stages' future for at least 15 years, the existing glass double structure on Willy-Brandt-Platz has become unfit for operation due to its decay. This deterioration has been evident in various studies since 2017, prompting Frankfurt to decide on demolishing the structure.
The city council has approved a proposal with the intention of rebuilding the opera house at its present location, while the theater will be rebuilt a short distance away in Frankfurt's bustling banking district. However, prior to this transformation, the city council will enter negotiations with landowners to lease a suitable site.
Leasehold Agreement with Hessische Landesbank and Sparkasse
The preliminary lease agreement reportedly stipulates that the city can lease a roughly 5500 square meter site for 199 years towards the redevelopment project. The city will incur a one-time payment of 35 million euros, along with a yearly installment of around two million euros. Yet, these costs are just a fraction of the overall expense, considering the experts' initial assessment of the construction costs for the two new buildings—ranging between 1.27 and 1.3 billion euros.
While construction on this ambitious project is planned to begin within at least four years, it will only occur once the bank building can be demolished, which won't happen until 2027 at the earliest. Following the negotiation of sites, an architectural competition will take place. During the construction phase, the theater and opera will require temporary solutions for maintaining their services.
The master plan suggests the completion of the new theater first, which will serve as an interim venue for the opera until the new building is finished. Subsequently, the construction process will culminate in a new storage and logistics center for the stages in Wiesbaden's municipalities.
Coalition Support and Opposition
The magistrate's bill acquired the support of both the ruling coalition and the opposition, with the exception of the BFF and Ökolinx. Concurring parties, including the CDU, praised the forward-thinking decision, while the Greens deemed it an excellent solution. The SPD commended the consensus during this transformative juncture while the CDU reminded the opponents of their earlier stance: "The renovation option is dead."
Nevertheless, there is still some way to go. The leasehold agreement is subject to approval in 2024 and is contingent upon the city council outlining the plans for the architectural competition and the preparation of a financing concept.
Frankfurt's journey towards revamping its municipal theaters' infrastructure is a prime example of the intricate coordination between municipal, state, and federal governments. Despite momentary reservations or skepticism, the ultimate goal remains consistent: to provide a refreshed and evolving cultural landscape for the people of Frankfurt and the surrounding region.
