Josef-Matthias-Hauer-Platz: Big plans for a new meeting center!

Josef-Matthias-Hauer-Platz: Big plans for a new meeting center!

The first regular meeting of Josefstadt district politicians took place on June 18th - a meeting that brought both experienced and newly elected district councilors together. At this meeting, attended by 21 experienced and 19 newly elected council members, 13 motions were on the agenda, covering topics such as traffic, urban planning and security. The main focus was on the redesign of Josef-Matthias-Hauer-Platz, which caused lively discussions among the population.

The application for a comprehensive redesign, initiated by the Greens, the SPÖ, the Neos and the KPÖ-Link, envisages a far-reaching redesign of the square and the surrounding streets. The plan is for through traffic to run in a “loop” from Skodagasse to Albertgasse. In addition, 16 new trees, flower beds and a central fountain are to be built on the square. A particular focus is on increasing cycling traffic in Skodagasse, where one-way cycling will be permitted.

Citizen participation and urban design

These changes are no coincidence: citizen participation in spring 2025 was the starting point for the planned redesign. A survey in which all Josefstadt residents eligible to vote were able to take part confirmed the desire for a more attractive square design. The results of this survey were published in March 2025. District leader Martin Fabisch emphasized the importance of the newly designed village square becoming a place of encounter, relaxation and community.

The planned measures also include traffic calming and extensive greening of the square. 20 new trees and numerous seating options will help transform the square from a mere traffic junction into a lively center. Marketplaces and open-air events such as street concerts and open-air cinemas are further aspects that are taken into account in the planning.

Criticism and support

The discussion about the redesign is not without controversy. The ÖVP club chairman, Adam Christian, criticized the approach and wording of the survey, which in his opinion was not up to date. He particularly described the traffic study carried out in 2017 as outdated. In contrast, the club chairman of the Green Party, Markus Mondre, rejected this criticism and praised the transparent process of citizen participation.

The application to redesign Josef-Matthias-Hauer-Platz was ultimately accepted by a majority. However, the votes of ÖVP and FPÖ were against it, highlighting the tensions between the political parties in this process. The next district council meeting, where further implementation details may be discussed, will take place on September 24th.

With a strong focus on sustainable and inclusive urban planning, as indicated in arc.ed.tum.de, Josefstadt is facing an exciting transformation. The visions of a lively, green space with an improved microclimate could not only enrich the cityscape of Josefstadt, but also significantly increase the quality of life of its residents.