Demolition at Elterleinplatz: Hernals fights against transience!

Demolition at Elterleinplatz: Hernals fights against transience!

A major change is imminent in Hernals: A building at Elterleinplatz 8 will soon be demolished to make room for a new subway station on the U5 line. This project makes the residents look forward to a not so happy future, because the Wilhelminian-style house, which houses around twenty tenants, a children's group and six artfully run shops, is being handed over to its fate. The demolition is scheduled for next year and the atmosphere in the district is already perceived as sad, according to numerous residents who fear losing their usual places. However, the ensemble also shines in dreary times: To give the place a little color, dedicated children painted the inside of the building colorfully - a creative sign of hope in such a hopeless situation MyBezirk clarifies.

A quick look at the local conditions shows that Elterleinplatz is not only the scene of the demolition, but also represents an important hub for two tram lines in Hernals. The heavily frequented Wilhelminian style house has a permanent place in the community, where even the kebab shop and the cell phone shop support each other in a profitable neighborhood. The commercial area is completely occupied - an exception in Hernals, as Augustin notes. But the original charm is soon lost because the Wiener Linien advocates demolition “for structural reasons” without presenting any comprehensible studies or expertise.

Background and controversies

The decision to demolish the building was only communicated to residents and those affected in May 2024, although the idea for the subway route has existed since 1992. Wiener Linien acquired the house in February 2024 for an impressive 8.9 million euros after massive threats were made against the owner. This attracts many critical voices: District leader Peter Jagsch from the SPÖ states that all political parties in Hernals have been aware of the plans since October 2022. However, this is vehemently denied by the opposition.

The residents now have to prepare for negotiations with the Wiener Linien, which are sometimes perceived as “ridiculously low”; The Viennese only offer three months' rent as compensation. A small business owner has already sought legal advice to defend herself against the demolition as no official demolition notice has yet been issued. This would give the affected users the opportunity to take legal action against the decision and also access the Wiener Linien files. Residents fear that a court case could drag on and cause the U5 plans to stall.

A look at Berlin and construction policy

In fact, a current discussion in urban development, which also extends beyond Vienna, shows that there is an urgent need for the conversion and renovation of old buildings instead of the practice of demolition. Activists are confronted with similar problems in Berlin, where the focus is on demolitions in favor of new construction projects. Critics warn that this leads to expensive living space and call on politicians to revitalize existing structures instead of creating empty spaces. Similar to there, a discussion about the usability of buildings could also be initiated in Vienna instead of making hasty demolition decisions, which nd aktuell has highlighted.

It remains to be hoped that the people at Elterleinplatz 8 will have their voices heard before the chapter of this creative place is finally closed. As the construction plans evolve, the question remains: How much space does the change require, and under what conditions is it actually sustainable?