Local Protest: Planned Viennese Event Arena Faces Opposition
A new large multi-purpose hall is to be built in Vienna by 2030. The "Vienna Holding Arena" will be erected on the site of St. Marx in the Landstraße district, on an area that is currently not yet developed. The prehistory was already marked by delays. The future operator, the German entertainment group CTS Eventim, only came into play after a court decision. Now there is also local resistance. A local initiative is protesting against the project.
Resistance Against Planned "Vienna Holding Arena" in St. Marx
The event center is designed for up to 20,000 visitors. The arena is intended as a venue for all kinds of shows and events, such as large rock and pop concerts or sports competitions and trade fairs. The building should be able to host around 145 events per year.
The major construction is taking place on an area next to the existing cattle hall (now Marx Hall), which has been lying fallow for years. Originally part of the slaughterhouse located there, the area was reserved for ORF for a long time when it was considering a new building. The new event hall was supposed to be built there, as announced in 2019. At that time, the opening was expected in 2024. But that did not happen.
Because the Vienna Administrative Court declared the originally intended award decision to be null and void after an objection. It was annulled for "formal legal reasons". It was only recently announced that CTS Eventim will build or operate the hall.
Local Initiative "St. Marx for All" Wants to Preserve Open Space
However, some neighbors are opposed to the project. The "St. Marx for All" initiative plans to demonstrate against it in front of the office of the responsible Vienna Holding on this Friday, as stated in a message. In a letter to the city government, it is made clear that they think little of the hall project. Instead, they want to discuss other usage concepts. "As an initiative, we are committed to preserving the open space and the interim uses & cultural associations located there," the letter says.
The open space is currently both a park landscape and a sports field. It is also a place for communal activities, thus a place of encounter. Only a few urban spaces have such a quality, the activists point out. "With regard to upcoming challenges, this space can be seen as a free urban planning experimental field." The construction would miss a great opportunity, they lament.
Vienna Holding relies on discussions with interim users
Vienna Holding is now relying on discussions, as was emphasized on APA request. In principle, the various interim uses are seen very positively and they want to maintain them as long as possible. Also, a corresponding lead time should be planned for a relocation of the interim uses. "We will proceed with caution here," they promised.
However, the term interim use implies that it is temporary. "With the start of construction or the preparations for the arena, these interim uses will therefore have to move out," it was stated in the statement. This has been known to those affected from the very beginning. "All uses are therefore legally designed as precarious with corresponding notice periods."
In the coming weeks, appropriate discussions with the interim users will be initiated, it is emphasized at Vienna Holding. The city will also support them in finding new locations, it was assured.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.