We need affordable housing. The problem here is not a lack of space, but excessively high rents caused by the capitalist housing market. More and more new flats on a profit-oriented, free market do not help to lower rents in the long term. In the so-called “Spreehafenviertel” district, half of the residential units – not of the living space – are to become social housing. These will therefore mostly be the smallest flats, and the social housing commitment is limited in time. We demand nature conservation AND affordable housing for all. It should no longer be cheaper to build on urban green spaces than to buy or, if necessary, expropriate and convert private commercial space. Housing must be created on already sealed areas, e.g. through:

• Converting vacant offices or hotels into flats.
• Building flats on unused commercial and industrial sites, above car parks or single-storey supermarkets; these areas are already sealed.
• Effective sanctions for vacant flats, including second homes.
• More social and cooperative housing.

Over the next 10 years, approximately 7.100 apartments and over 100.000 m² of commercial space are to be built in Wilhelmsburg; in the entire area, including Veddel and Grasbrook, it’s over 10.000 apartments. Only 11% of this is planned for the so-called “Spreehafenviertel”, but it will cause the most profound environmental destruction. The new development will lead to gentrification of the district, rising rents and traffic chaos. The U4 underground line will not be extended to Wilhelmsburg until years later, if at all.