Rostock's City Council Gives Green Light to New Theater Complex
In a heated council meeting, the Rostock City Parliament voted in favor of building a new Volkstheater. This decision followed a lengthy debate, with 31 votes in favor and 12 votes against, with four abstentions. The agreement was initiated by Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, The Left Party, and the Rostocker Bund.
Mayor Eva-Maria Kröger of The Left Party emphasized the urgency of the project due to the poor condition of the existing Volkstheater. "This is a building of the century. It's pricy, but nobody is concealing that," she asserted.
The cost of the new four-section theater building is estimated to be around €208 million. Initial plans from 2018 projected €110 million, while later estimates increased to €183 million. In the final motion, the city council acknowledged the necessity for a new Volkstheater and made the final investment decision on the new theater building.
The FDP had expressed concerns about issuing a "blank check" for the project, while the CDU emphasized the financial impact on the city budget and society. Confirming these concerns, CDU member of parliament Daniel Peters stated, "The new building is oversized, and the costs have skyrocketed." However, a motion by the CDU/UFR for a referendum on the theater project was nonexistent.
Mayor Kröger continues to oppose downsizing the new theater. Before the meeting, Ralph Reichel, the director of the Volkstheater, argued that the new theater building is crucial, considering that €12 million has already been allocated for planning and development.
Despite the high costs, numerous municipalities recognize the cultural and societal importance of a new theater building, making the financial impact a significant concern.
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In the course of researching information about a proposed new Volkstheater building in Rostock, Germany, it was discovered that online search resources lack explicit coverage of this particular project. Search results predominantly focus on cultural events, travel guides, and political discussions in various cities and regions, but a new Volkstheater building in Rostock is not mentioned. For up-to-date information on specific projects or buildings in Rostock, it is advisable to consult local news sources and official city council announcements.
