Dispute over plane tree: No excavation at the controversial Lueger monument!

Dispute over plane tree: No excavation at the controversial Lueger monument!

A plane tree in the immediate vicinity of the controversial Karl Lueger monument provides a breath of fresh air in the discussion about the historic site on Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Platz in Vienna. The chairman of the Green Party in the 1st district, Alexander Hirschenhauser, is bringing the issue of the tree situation to the public after a tree report prepared by Rudolf Richter GmbH on June 30, 2022 revealed how sensitive the location of the plane tree actually is.

The monument itself, which was erected in 1926 based on plans by the sculptor Josef Müllner, has come under fire because of the anti-Semitic views of Lueger, who was mayor of Vienna from 1897 to 1910. Numerous artistic interventions and debates about the best way to deal with this monument have accompanied the city's history for years. [Wikipedia] informs that the competition to design the monument dragged on during the First World War before it was finally unveiled in 1926 and celebrated by an impressive crowd.

Trees, reports and criticism

Back to the current discussion: Hirschenhauser recently submitted a request for a copy of the tree report, but to date there has been no response. A former district councilor was able to easily obtain the report via the Freedom of Information Act. Hirschenhauser criticizes the city of Vienna's lack of transparency in this matter.

The report recommends avoiding excavation work and embankment in order not to damage the sensitive root system of the plane tree. An on-site inspection took place in August 2025, which confirmed that the foundation of the monument remains intact and that no excavation work is actually required. This was also recognized by the responsible departments, MA22 (Nature Conservation) and MA42 (Vienna City Gardens), which confirmed the significance of the report.

Political reactions and future plans

The district leader Markus Figl from the ÖVP made it clear that the preservation of the plane tree is of great importance for the district. Work is planned to be completed in summer 2026, although the start date remains uncertain. So a little patience is required before the next phase of the artistic and social dialogue surrounding the monument can begin.

The public debate about how to deal with the Lueger monument remains lively. The discussion about the symbolism of the monument is constantly being reignited and it remains to be seen what steps the City of Vienna will ultimately take to take the historical context into account and to find a respectful approach to such important but controversial monuments. [MyDistrict] is keeping an eye on current developments and will keep readers updated on progress and decisions.