As per the Ministry of Interior, the economic viability of the proposed asylum center at BER Airport is secure, even though the tenants and space requirements are still under consideration. The project's fundamental elements have been examined, according to the Ministry's response to State Parliament representative Matthias Stefke (BVB/Freie Wähler).
The property's location is deemed indispensable, as stated by a report by PD - Berater der öffentlichen Hand. After the minimum rental period, the property can't be sold as it is, the Ministry revealed. Various cost and revenue options have been scrutinized for the rental amount and compared with the market price.
Approximately half of the center's office space will be subleased, principally to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. A preliminary agreement has been reached, as confirmed by the Ministry. Both 25-year and 30-year usage durations have been calculated.
The plan to relocate the arrival center for asylum seekers from Eisenhüttenstadt to BER Airport has been unveiled. Additionally, there are plans for an exit detention center and an accommodation and transit building for people denied entry.
The Left and Green parties have criticized the project being handed to a private investor without a tender. Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU) has justified this by stating that the investor owns the land. The Greens reiterated their concerns.
The Ministry of Finance has allocated budget funds for the project. This year, €400,000 is earmarked for planning and project support, jumping to €700,000 in the next year.
Stefke, the MP, remains puzzled. He observed that profitability isn't just about the rent but also the construction cost. He questioned if the landowner should also be the project developer. "Why did the federal government not build the center with its land facilities?" he asked.
The debate in parliament continues regarding the decision to award the asylum center project to a private investor without a tender. Stefke raises questions concerning the project's financial feasibility, suggesting that the construction cost and potential state-led construction should have been considered. Moreover, migration policies and the welfare of refugees, including the asylum center's future, are expected to be discussed in parliamentary debates.
According to industry data, private development of asylum centers can be fraught with challenges, such as the failed privatization attempt at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport and the subsequent financial mismanagement. But, public ownership and operation also present difficulties in terms of regulatory challenges and financial support requirements.
In hindsight, the project was initially awarded to a private investor without a tender due to the perceived economic advantages of having an airport near the city center with existing transportation infrastructure. However, despite the initial promising outlook, the project eventually transitioned to public ownership, subject to numerous financial, legal, and regulatory challenges.
