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Protest against demolition in Salzwedel: Police intervene!
Demolition protest in Salzwedel: Police break up meeting while Altmarkkreis pursues renovation plans for dilapidated buildings.
Protest against demolition in Salzwedel: Police intervene!
After a turbulent Monday morning, protests against the demolition of a dilapidated building at Burgstrasse 59 in Salzwedel collapsed when the police intervened. As az-online.de reports, the demolition work began last week, and the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel has planned a replacement project to finally remove the now dilapidated building.
On Monday, around 20 activists gathered at the site to prevent the demolition. The mood was tense and the police had to ban the access to the Bocksbrücke. The operation, which was carried out at the request of the Altmarkkreis, ended late in the morning when the officers dispersed the protesters despite fierce resistance. Seventeen of them now face criminal charges on initial suspicion of trespassing.
Communication problems and responsibility
The signing of the demolition increases the disbelief of Sabine Decker, a representative of the solidarity housing cooperative Trawo, who complains about the difficulties in communicating with those responsible. In a conversation in the district council, the head of the building regulations office, Kerstin Lingstädt, also emphasized that legal options are limited and that intervention is urgently necessary if owners do not fulfill their responsibilities.
Lingstädt returned from vacation on Monday but was not informed of the changed circumstances. Despite the explosive clarification of the situation, the Altmarkkreis did not comment on the new circumstances.
The community stands together
The solidarity of the population is strong and the Trawo community is active in acquiring possible shares in the building. It remains to be seen how the discussion about the future of the property will continue and whether the plans for a sustainable and communal form of living can take shape. Further information about the solidarity housing cooperative can be found on the Trawo website.
Against the backdrop of the demolition, emotional commemorations also took place on Sunday, during which flowers were laid at stumbling blocks for former Jewish residents to mark the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
The events in Salzwedel reflect the challenges communities face when it comes to preserving and maintaining historic buildings. It remains to be hoped that a dialogue between citizens and political decision-makers can lead to a solution acceptable to all actors.