High-rise building on Opernplatz in Frankfurt is met with skepticism
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fromDennis Pfeiffer-Goldmann
shut down
Investor Signa will build a 60-meter tower near the Alte Oper. But the move irritates important politicians.
Frankfurt – The posters for the Gibson Beach Club on the property of the Opernplatz 2 building, which was demolished in spring, are still hanging. It should probably open again next summer. The chance that property owners and the city will be able to agree on the new development by then is not too great.
It has been a few weeks since the owner, Signa Real Estate of the Austrian billionaire and Karstadt owner René Benko, apparently had a test balloon rise. The FAZ reported that they wanted to build 60 meters high on the property diagonally across from the Alte Oper.
The idea is not entirely new: it has long been rumored that Signa would like to build high here. From the previous owner of the site, Allianz, it took over planning and approval ready for construction in 2019 – but only for a new building in the cubature of its predecessor. And the plan only provides a height similar to that of the previous building.
City contradicts rumor: No horse-trading for Karstadt
The city has already refused several times. “We have only given the promise to examine the possibility of building a skyscraper at Opernplatz 2 with an open mind”, emphasizes Mark Gellert, spokesman for planning department Mike Josef (SPD). This promise is not difficult for Josef: The area belongs to the one that the city is already having to examine for a new version of the skyscraper plan for its suitability for further skyscrapers.
It is not yet clear what exactly Signa wants. The company has recently not responded to several requests from the editorial team. Josef spokesman Gellert only confirms that an L-shaped structure is planned. Seven storeys and a stacked storey are planned for the Opernplatz, thus similar to the surrounding buildings. A low, 60-meter-high skyscraper is proposed on the side of the site facing away from Opernplatz.
“Stepped solution” towards the skyline
This would then stand right next to the 89-meter-high office building at the Alte Oper, which is best known as the Citi-Bank skyscraper after the former main tenant. This would result in “a stepped solution” towards the skyline, explains Mark Gellert. Because behind that on Neue Mainzer Straße are the Eurotheum with a height of 110 meters and behind them the very high towers of the banking district including numbers one, four and six in Frankfurt’s skyline ranking: the Commerzbank tower (259 meters), the Maintower (200 meters. )) and the Omniturm (190 meters).
Whether such a “stepped solution” looks attractive and fits the skyline is viewed critically in the professional world. So that it should appear something to the skyline, it is called new buildings long-distance effect. This is exactly what the 170-meter-high Opera Tower, for example, which is close to the Alte Oper, has exactly this effect.
Several other houses in the area are of similar height
However, in the vicinity of the historical building there are also several buildings with a height similar to that of the Signa wishes: Directly to the north is the 50 meter high, elongated, massive structure “Die Welle”. To the south-west, near the Taunusanlage on both sides of the Marienturm, are the 69-meter high-rise “T8” from 2015 and the 75-meter-high building “T11” from 1972. Not far to the east, the new building of the Hotel Hilton am old towers above it Stadtbad Mitte 49 meters high, its surroundings are clearly visible. South of the Opernplatz on the Freßgass is the 40-meter-high Merkur-Haus from 1952. It is the last of Frankfurt’s “skyscrapers” from the very beginning.
Why the planning department is skeptical – and others angry
A skyscraper at Opernplatz 2 is also viewed with skepticism in the planning department. “This is a reasonable place,” emphasizes Josef spokesman Gellert. The rule is that a new building should not “additionally shade” the space. That is exactly what the Signa had in mind IF YOU want to place the tower on the building site as far away from the opera as possible. But it cannot do this without the consent of the city.
And the chances of this have not increased recently. Annoyed grumbling can be heard from the ranks of the Greens. In the leading party of the Roman coalition, it was not well received that the Signa addressed its wishes through a newspaper. (Dennis Pfeiffer-Goldmann)