Offenbach’s Mayor Schwenke on the Corona episodes

To person

Felix Schwenke (SPD), born in 1979, married and father of two children, has been Mayor of the City of Offenbach since January 2018. He is responsible for economic development, the personnel and legal office as well as for sports and culture. The 40-year-old has no political majority in the city parliament because a new coalition without SPD participation was formed after the 2016 local elections.

In the SPD Schwenke started at the age of 16. He was Juso chairman, party leader and since 2001 city councilor. In 2012, the PhD high school teacher became full-time city councilor, who was also responsible for combing from 2014. In 2016 he was recalled from the new alliance, which includes the CDU, Greens, FDP and Free Voters.

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Of course, there is a risk.

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Are you worried?

Naturally. The question is, what does Corona do with our city?

What do you think?

With the cuts in the economy, a new round of structural change is triggered. Put simply, Offenbach will look different after Corona than before.

Will there be social upheavals?

We will certainly have more unemployed and poverty will be greater. This is dramatic for everyone who is personally concerned. We have long experience in Offenbach in dealing with social inequality. Fortunately, we therefore have structures, from the neighborhood management and the boards to the job center, to deal with these problems. It will also be important to keep our clubs alive.

Corona affects all cities. The revenue collapses. How tough will it be for Offenbach?

The same applies here too: It is still too early to put it reliably. One thing is clear: the pandemic does not affect all cities equally. Where automobile production or flight operations are largely at a standstill, the consequences will be greater than ours. I hope that Offenbach will emerge from the crisis “only” as a “financially normal victim”. However, the result will be negative.

Offenbach will have to save. Or do you want to increase trade tax and make more debts?

We will certainly not increase trade tax. I expect that in such a historically unique situation, federal and state governments will assume most of the financial burdens at least this year. The country will decide whether debts will also be allowed.

And what about saving?

With new projects, we will have to discuss what we can afford.

Citizens also suffer financially. Will property tax be reduced?

This is decided by the majority in the city council and not by the mayor. But I never duck away, so let’s be honest: I don’t know how that should be possible at the moment.

What does Corona mean for large projects such as the Clariant site that the city recently bought. It is considered the centerpiece of Offenbach’s commercial development. Will the hope of future-oriented companies be settled?

Yes. We want to develop this 35 hectare area in 10 to 15 years. This time frame does not make us so dependent on the current situation.

What does the crisis mean for the starving inner city? Will the concept still be implemented?

Yes. Before the political summer break, we want to make a decision about the future concept and also initiate feasibility studies for specific projects. Even more retailers will face problems due to the Corona crisis. In my view, the concept has therefore become even more important.

You are in favor of moving the city library to the city center as a frequency generator. Will you pursue the idea further?

In the end, whether this will happen will be a question of money.

The central projects for upgrading the inner city include the renovation of the city center and the new buildings on the Toys’R’Us site. Is it on schedule?

I’m cautiously optimistic.

What about the college for design. There is currently talk of delays. Will there be a new building at the port?

That’s what I’m expecting. I also have no reason why he shouldn’t come.

A high-rise building with 29,000 square meters of office space is to be built opposite Port 2. The heating and refrigeration group Danfoss plans to use half of this for its German headquarters. Does the groundbreaking in autumn remain?

Since there is a main tenant and the investor has already set up a sales pavilion, I assume that there will be no significant changes.

We come to Offenbach’s largest construction site at the Kaiserlei around the old Siemens storms, where 837 apartments, office space, shops, a hotel and a fitness club with a bathroom are to be built. Something is happening?

There has been a change in the CEO of the CG Group. However, as far as we know, the company will continue to pursue the project as planned, even under new management.

What about the planned high-rise office buildings on the vacant space due to the conversion of the Kaiserleikreisel?

We are considering postponing the tender and waiting for a better time to market the site. This is actually a result of Corona.

You can dream for a moment: The corona crisis is over. What would you do first?

As a private person? I would organize a family celebration with my children and parents, where everyone could hug again.

Interview: Agnes Schönberger

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