Germany: A Munich villa that was supposed to be a kindergarten could now become an asylum center

A daycare center was supposed to be built inside a historic villa at Beuerberger Straße 9 in the Solln district, but after the neighborhood protested against this kindergarten, including with legal actions, the villa could now be an asylum center.

The villa, which formerly housed a publishing house and residential space, was set to be converted to a kindergarten in the spring of 2024, but a court decision is now pending after locals sued against the kindergarten space.

The local district committee was reviewing an application to convert the space to a private daycare last year in May 2024, but did not issue a decision. Now, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) has received an application to convert it to an asylum center, which was put forward by the Green Party’s Alexander Aichwalder, chairman of the subcommittee on construction and planning.

According to German media outlet Hallo München, he cites the Federal Employment Agency’s opinion that from a building law perspective, there is nothing that would keep the house from being converted to social housing for refugees, as no renovations are needed and no trees would need to be removed.

The Federal Employment Agency said that Aichwalder’s proposal might be viewed as an “act of revenge” after residents protested against a daycare, as a home for housing for asylum seekers is expected to be viewed even more harshly than a daycare.

However, the agency acknowledges that Munich needs more accommodations for refugees. As Remix News has reported in the past, Bavaria, where Munich is located, is facing a refugee housing crisis.

There are also other considerations for the villa, including a shelter for homeless women. A final assessment will be issued once an operating concept and information on occupancy figures is finalized.

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