Public Outcry Over Proposed City Center Parking Garage in Kaarster Through Resident-Initiated Protests and Opposition to the "New Kaarster Mitte" Project
In the heart of Kaarst, Germany, a citizens' initiative called "Stop the Pestalozzistraße Parking Garage" remains active, voicing concerns over the proposed construction of a parking garage in the city center. The initiative argues that the parking garage would lead to increased traffic, environmental concerns, and negatively impact the local character of the area.
The ongoing dialogue between the citizens' initiative, local authorities, and planners aims to find a balanced solution that meets both community and development needs.
Regarding the plans for the New Kaarst Center, the current proposals include alternatives aimed at addressing parking and traffic issues without building the large Pestalozzistraße parking garage. These alternatives focus on:
- Enhancing public transportation connections to reduce the dependency on cars.
- Developing smaller, decentralized parking solutions spread around the center rather than one large garage.
- Integrating green spaces and pedestrian-friendly zones to improve the urban environment.
- Encouraging car-sharing and bicycle infrastructure as part of a sustainable mobility approach.
One alternative to the parking garage at Pestalozzistraße is an underground garage built under the entire sports field, with the sports field elevated above it behind the multi-purpose hall.
A building called "House of Possibilities" is also planned for the city center, to be a private business and residential building constructed by a private investor. The construction of this building will eliminate all current public and private parking spaces on both sides of the Am Maubishof street.
Pedestrian, cyclist, e-scooter, rollator, and public transport bus traffic will take place on a "Shared Space" area in the area of today's Am Maubishof street.
Marcel Schulze Bomke-Vossschulte, former chairman of the committee for urban development, planning, and traffic of the city of Kaarst, has spoken out in support of the petition. Sandra Pauen, who launched the petition, aims to raise awareness among Kaarsters and motivate them to act.
If you want to support the citizens' initiative, you can sign the online petition at www.openpetition.de/petition/online/stoppt-den-bau-haus-der-moeglichkeiten-und-den-wegfall-der-parkplaetze-in-der-kaarster-innenstadt. If the petition reaches the required 2,449 signatures, it will give every Kaarster the chance to vote on whether the parking garage will be built or not.
Bomke-Vossschulte urges Kaarst citizens to revisit the plans for the New Kaarst Center and support the application for the citizens' initiative "Stop the Pestalozzistraße Parking Garage" with their signature. For more detailed updates or official statements, you might want to check the Kaarst municipal website or local news sources covering the development project.
- The political discourse in Kaarst, Germany, involves the "Stop the Pestalozzistraße Parking Garage" initiative, local authorities, and planners, as they work together to find a balanced solution for the New Kaarst Center, addressing concerns raised by the citizens' initiative about the proposed parking garage.
- The "House of Possibilities" construction in Kaarst city center, along with the elimination of current parking spaces on Am Maubishof street, adds to the ongoing general news discussion about the impact on traffic and the city's character, prompting public support for the citizens' initiative "Stop the Pestalozzistraße Parking Garage" and its online petition.
