Mysterious investor blocks progress: What happens to Ürzig's school?

Mysterious investor blocks progress: What happens to Ürzig's school?

Things are simmering in the small community of Ürzig on the Moselle. The old school, which has been empty since 2007, is a source of conversation and frustration. Local mayor Mirko Dornbach sums it up: “The condition of the old school is untenable.” The building was bought in 2011 by Hong Kong Chinese investor Alan Fong, but since then plans for a wine academy and an audio center for Chinese tourists have only been on paper. Instead, nothing has happened to the building for years, and the community now wants to bring about change.

Dornbach reports that the Ürzig community wanted to get in touch with Fong, but communication was proving difficult. “We only have his postal address and have never met him in person,” he says. Concerns about Fong's age - he is 68 - are growing. The community has the idea of ​​buying back the old school and repairing it themselves. Before the sale, there were even considerations of demolishing the building and building a meeting place in its place. “We are considering numerous possible uses, such as a village shop or rooms for our clubs,” continued Dornbach.

Backgrounds and visions

A look at the real estate market shows that the upgrading of former schools is very popular in Germany. In other communities, such as Flensburg, work is already underway with the old buildings. The former Voigtschule is listed there and is offered for 651 euros, while other schools are listed for over 700,000 euros. Dornbach hopes that many of these properties could become new meeting places for the village community.

In Ürzig, however, the standstill at the old school is more than frustrating. Dornbach wonders whether the dreams for the wine academy and tourist offerings will ever become reality. “We feel like no one here really cares.” “Vintage Audio Deutschland GmbH”, which was previously based at the school, remains listed in the commercial register, but is “permanently closed” according to Google. This raises questions about the future of the site and increases uncertainty among community representatives.

The future for Ürzig

A positive example of what can be achieved by renovating historic buildings comes from Saxony. A listed former racing horse stable in Röcknitz is currently being revitalized. The project creates opportunities for co-working spaces and a volcano exhibition, intended to attract both locals and tourists. Such initiatives could also be important for Ürzig, where preserving school buildings not only respects the past but also shapes the future of the community.

The community has great potential, but something needs to be done to achieve it. “We are doing everything we can to transform the old school into a lively center that benefits the citizens,” says Dornbach in conclusion. The clear message is: Initiative is needed to overcome the standstill and strengthen the community together. The future of Ürzig could be bright – if only it is tackled correctly.

For more information about the opportunities that can arise from former schools, take a look at the pages of People's friend, Classifieds and Engel & Völkers.