Potsdam is fighting for sports field: the future of locomotive Potsdam is on the brink!

Potsdam is fighting for sports field: the future of locomotive Potsdam is on the brink!

in Potsdam, a decisive turn in the future of the sports area of the Railway Sports Association "Lokomotive Potsdam" (Lok) e. V. an. As reports [CityReport] (https://cityreport.pnr24-online.de/stadt-setz-----weiterhin-fuer-Ein-hersgung-des --des-s-senbahner-Sportverein-Lokomotive-Potsdam-ein/), the state capital is tirelessly committed to securing the complex. The city intends to acquire the property in order to provide both the club members as well as school and popular sports. An additional public river path is also to be secured, which certainly benefits the attractiveness of the area.

A meeting between representatives of the city and the association on the premises served to clarify the next steps. Mayor Burkhard Exner emphasized the goal of securing the area on the deep lake for sporting activities. The city has already explained its interest to the federal government and remains, but speaks for support for a direct purchase at a fair price.

Litigation and partial success

Despite these positive developments, however, the fear of existence for the association remains noticeable. According to located potsdam.de, the ESV Lok Potsdam achieved partial success in an appeal procedure before the OLG Brandenburg when the lease lawsuit of the Federal Republic was rejected as unfounded. However, the lease claim of the federal railway assets (BEV) for the years 2019 to 2025, which amounts to a total of 833,000 euros plus interest, is still a major hurdle.

The city is trying to maintain the sports area, but so far there has been no final solution. On December 29, 2023, the Potsdam District Court decided that the lease was justified for 2019, while it was rejected for 2020. The association has also submitted a petition for the preservation of the site with over 10,000 signatures - an impressive sign of support from the community.

challenges and opportunities

The current legal situation around the property is complex. According to [VIBSS] (https://www.vibss.de/vereinsmanagement/sportraeume-umwelt/ Lawliche-unden-und-refaege/erlaeuterungen-zum-erbbaUrecht-und-bw-lacht representation-1), the heritage law enables an alternative to be used in the long term, but often with many bureaucratic hurdles tied together. Complicated contractual terms and the possibility of premature terminations by property administrations mean high risks for the association in the event of huge investments in the infrastructure. So far, the ESV Lok Potsdam has invested over 3.1 million euros in the sports facility, which underlines the importance of preservation.

The city, however, remains committed to the relevant areas in dialogue. The budget committee of the German Bundestag has already decided that BEV plots are to be transferred to the BIMA, which, however, goes hand in hand with a sales stop until September 30, 2024. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised support for the preservation of the sports area, which gives hope for a positive turn in the long struggle for the existence of the association.

In the coming months, the development will be observed closely, while the club and the city are working on a solution that ensures the habitat for sports and community in Potsdam.