Görlitz: Asylum plans fall through - theater renovation is pending!

Görlitz: Asylum plans fall through - theater renovation is pending!

In Niesky, the situation around the local asylum seekers' home has become more serious. The Görlitz district has finally given up its previous plans to expand the home, which has stood on the outskirts of the city next to an industrial wasteland since 2015. A key reason for this step is the falling number of refugees and the resistance of the residents to the project. Over 60 single men are currently living at the property, while mixed occupancy with families is being sought. City residents are no strangers to the fears and prejudices that shape discussions about the home. An online petition against the home, initiated by an AfD city councilor, was closed because of the hate comments that were boiling up. The police, on the other hand, rate the security situation in the area around the home as “completely unspectacular” and speak of 11 police operations last year, most of which were not connected to the asylum accommodation.

This situation is made even more complex by the district council's decision in October 2023 to create new accommodation in the Niesky area. Although an increase in capacity from 98 to up to 200 places was planned - the expansion was to be carried out by setting up containers - the plan is not only met with resistance. There are currently 14 of the home's inmates, which corresponds to about a quarter of the residents, who have committed criminal offenses. These numbers contribute to the uncertainty among the population, while there is no housing available for asylum seekers in surrounding communities. The district council unanimously came to the decision that a more balanced distribution is necessary, although support from the population continues to be doubted.

Future of the Görlitz Theater

The city council in Görlitz is also working on the planned renovation of the Görlitz Theater. There is 57.1 million euros on the agenda here to bring the Gerhart Hauptmann Theater and the other venues, including the Apollo Theater and the old freight yard, into shape. Some of the existing structures suffer from technical obsolescence and a lack of accessibility, which makes the investments urgently necessary. Damage caused by the flood disaster in November 2022 has further exacerbated the situation. The consent of all three shareholders is required for the measures that have now been decided, and the first vote on this took place today in the Görlitz city council. After approval from the city council, the final vote will follow in the district council in October.

The old freight yard will now be used as a replacement venue during the two-year construction work and will then be available as a rehearsal room. The cultural administration emphasizes the importance of investing in the renewal of the theater in order to promote a culturally diverse region and improve the offerings for citizens. The entire project is also in the context of a broader discussion about cultural institutions and their financing in the region. The topic will also be well received at the upcoming Digital Festival in Nuremberg, where aspects of diversity and accessibility in administration will be discussed. These issues are of key importance not only locally, but also at the national level.

The developments surrounding the asylum home in Niesky and the renovation of the Görlitz Theater show how many dimensions are interwoven in local politics and how community discussions can be shaped by various causes. It remains to be seen how the projects will develop and whether the residents will agree with the decisions of the district council and city council.

For more information, click on the links: Saxon, MDR, BAMF.