New cultural center in Strasburg: laying of the foundation stone after the fire disaster!

New cultural center in Strasburg: laying of the foundation stone after the fire disaster!

The foundation stone for a new cultural center was laid in Strasburg (Western Pomerania-Greifswald district) on Wednesday afternoon. This took place in a celebratory setting that symbolized the city's hope and sense of community. Mayor Klemens Kowalski (independent) and numerous guests were present to celebrate this important event. The new building, which will accommodate up to 200 visitors, will cost around six million euros and will be built on the same site as the old cultural center, which was completely destroyed by suspected arson in April 2022. There was extensive damage during the fire and the arsonist has not yet been caught, which presented the city with particular challenges as legal disputes were initiated with the insurance company in order to enforce financial claims. According to nordkurier, the city has already hired lawyers to avoid further stress with the insurance, which assumes that the city administration is underinsured.

The costs of the new building will be covered by an insurance sum that is still outstanding and by federal funding of 1.56 million euros, which was promised in 2021. The city is still expecting a payment of 3.1 million euros for the fire damage. A lawsuit against the insurance company is possible if no agreement can be reached. The building application has already been submitted to the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, but approval is still pending. To ensure that the schedule can be adhered to, the city is making every effort to take the necessary steps quickly.

A new chapter for culture

The old cultural center was an important location for numerous events and a symbol for the city. After the fire in 2022, the city council decided to demolish the damaged building and plan a new building. The demolition of the ruins was completed by December 2023. The planning services for the new building were commissioned in the last quarter of 2023, and an on-site survey took place in December. A planning office has started working on a first preliminary draft for the new cultural center, which is intended to respect the past and at the same time look into the future, as the Strasburger Anzeiger reports.

The design of the new cultural center includes three large windows intended to pay homage to the old building, as well as a wave that will flow through the building both outside and inside. These elements are intended to further strengthen the connection to the city's history. In addition, some old details of the demolished cultural center will be integrated into the new design in order to maintain the connection to the previous use.

On the way to completion

According to current plans, the final building application will be submitted by the end of April 2024, before construction work is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. The goal is to almost complete the cultural center by the end of 2025. It remains to be hoped that all legal challenges can be resolved by then so that this symbolic project can be realized in the city.

In the end, the new cultural center will not only be a modern meeting place, but also a symbol of the new beginning and the feeling of togetherness in Strasburg. Citizens can look forward to a building that will celebrate art and culture as well as the traditions of the city, which can give new impetus to the community spirit in the region.