The 26 houses in the former u.S. Housing estate corlette circle, about a kilometer from kitzingen (in the direction of groblangheim), could become shared accommodation for around 150 asylum seekers.
However, this is only a plan of the government of lower franconia, which is urgently looking for accommodation: so far, neither a rental agreement has been signed, nor has the city council of kitzingen approved the project, as it said at a press conference on wednesday.
Only one thing is clear at the moment: the number of asylum seekers is rising. According to a forecast, around 100,000 people from many parts of the world will be seeking asylum in germany this year, as thomas weingart from the government’s refugee support department explained. 1700 of them are supposed to find a (temporary) home in lower franconia, after a distribution agreement.
And because the existing capacities are not sufficient, the government is looking for locations in all counties. In the offer there was the 2.6 hectare rough land of the corlette circle, which the owner – according to weingart – had offered for lease the previous year. A "constructional" examination of the housing estate followed. Result: the site would be suitable for the establishment of community housing. However, the houses had to be brought up to an "appropriate standard" and the access to electricity, water, gas and sewage had to be restored, according to weingart.
A discussion with the owner was positive: "an agreement is within the realm of possibility." Weingart’s hope now is that the accommodations can be made ready for occupancy "as soon as possible. However, he expects that it could be "tight" in 2013.
The kitzingen city council was able to put a spanner in the works. According to mayor siegfried muller, the "political decision" on the use of the land and the houses dating back to 1938 will be made shortly after the summer break – within the framework of his planning authority. The establishment of a community center for asylum seekers is "viewed very critically by large parts of the city council," muller had already written to government president paul beinhofer at the end of july: "a political majority is therefore not to be expected for it."
Many city councillors feared disadvantages for kitzingen as a business location, said the mayor in a press interview. He emphasized that the city had wanted a "different kind of government facility". Otherwise, the city has done its part in accommodating asylum seekers – with 46 places in kitzingen.
What happens if kitzingen rejects the 150 asylum seeker places in the corlette circle is still unclear. Then it would presumably be the turn of the district, which, according to antonette graber, head of the social affairs department at the district office, has to see "where we can find accommodation" anyway.