Spandau garden enthusiasts are fighting against demolition plans at the Breitehorn!

Spandau garden enthusiasts are fighting against demolition plans at the Breitehorn!

The Spandau district has presented a controversial feasibility study on converting the Breitehorn an der Havel area into a flood area. As the Berlin newspaper reports, the plan includes removing about 95 percent of the weekend arbors and a swimming area. City councilor for construction Thorsten Schatz (CDU) previously described the Ernst-Liesegang-Ufer as a popular hiking trail and assessed the proposal as necessary for the renaturation of the area.

The measures are being strongly criticized by residents, as shown by an online petition that has already collected 4,270 signatures by August 12, 2025. The district office's justification for the comprehensive demolition plans is based on contractual agreements and the alleged need for renaturation and the creation of a flood area. However, political decision-makers at the district council still have to examine the necessity of these measures.

Legal hurdles and public concerns

In previous decisions, the Court of Appeal has placed high demands on proof of a “public purpose”. The feasibility study presented, which, in the opinion of the Berlin newspaper is not fulfilled, contains no concrete plans for the renaturation or protection of animal and plant species. In addition, it is not stated what costs would be incurred for the planned measures. The city councilor explained that he had to implement the decision and that he no longer had any influence on the basic direction of the project.

A purchase agreement contains a vague clause that does not force the district to carry out the demolition work. The Court of Appeal also determined that “the site should be left fallow”. However, the district currently has neither money nor staff to put the plans into action. The Court of Appeal is expected to be involved in the matter again if the demolition plans are not stopped.

Future perspectives and challenges

The planned measures in Spandau are not only a local issue, but also raise larger questions about the use of public spaces. While residents and garden enthusiasts are vehemently opposing the proposed demolition plans, it remains to be seen whether political decision-makers will take citizens' concerns seriously and find alternative solutions.

In another context we find in the entertainment industry, as on Data Lounge indicated serious problems such as sexism and inadequate treatment conditions for employees. This issue shows how important public pressure is on decision-makers, even if problems often persist over a long period of time.

Another event in the context of legal punishments recently occurred in the USA: the rapper Sean Kingston was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison NBC News reported. Co-author of fraudulent schemes, he was involved in the falsification of documents that yielded over $1 million. This example makes it clear that grievances persist not only in politics, but also in other areas of our lives.