One of Berlin’s largest stadiums is set to be demolished, a move many find absurd and are currently opposing. An urgent request has been submitted to the Administrative Court regarding the controversial demolition work in the historic Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark.

Environmental protests

The request was submitted on the afternoon of October 8 and has been sent to the judges of the 24th chamber, said a court spokeswoman. The NaturFreunde Berlin association had previously announced its intention to file such a request to halt the demolition until adequate wildlife protection measures are put in place within the sports park. This would include compensatory actions to secure the nesting areas of birds and bats.

On October 8, excavators arrived at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark and began demolishing the buildings. Senator for Internal Affairs and Sport Iris Spranger (SPD) confirmed the start of the work during a Senate press conference. I must say that the Senate's Department of Urban Development has always acted very, very well, especially in this area. We’ll see if the court even considers the urgent request, said the SPD politician.

© Eike Maschevsky

An expensive and unnecessary investment?

Unlike the environmentalists, the Berlin State Sports Association supports the planned construction work and is calling for a demonstration on October 11 at the sports park. After years of planning and ample opportunities for participation, it’s time to build a new stadium and renovate the park! A new 20,000-seat stadium is planned to replace the old structure, becoming the centerpiece of the new sports park. The Senate envisions a fully inclusive facility in the Prenzlauer Berg district, including tennis courts, soccer and volleyball fields, and a new multipurpose hall.

The project has been criticized for various reasons. The cost of the demolition and the construction of the new stadium has now reached €182 million, double the original estimate. The Jahnsportpark civic initiative has collected over 14,000 signatures to prevent the implementation of these measures.

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