Happy New Year, dear people of Aachen!
Here on the administrative building on Lagerhausstrasse, I am enjoying the panoramic view over our city. But before I look ahead with you, I would like to look back on a year full of challenges. The coronavirus pandemic, the floods, climate protection, the mobility transition and concern for children, young people and families have taken a lot out of us. But now I would like to look ahead with you full of energy and shed light on the things that will occupy us this year.
[Administration building Lagerhausstraße]
On the solar field of the administration building, we show what we as the city of Aachen are doing to stop climate change. We would like to invite you to do the same on your roofs. We are setting up funding programs for this. But we are also making sure that we make our city strong for the consequences of climate change and protect it from the effects of too much water or too much heat. We want more green spaces in the city. And we are committed to a circular economy instead of a throwaway society.
[Lothringerstraße]
Lothringerstraße, where I am currently sitting, is a good example of how we understand the mobility transition. Here, pedestrians stroll safely along the sidewalk, cyclists ride safely on the road and cars look for parking spaces in the multi-storey parking lots at 30 km/h. We want to work intensively on this good coexistence in the public street space in 2022.
But of course we are also keeping an eye on local public transport. The study will clarify whether the idea of a convenient and fast connection between Baesweiler and Aachen is economically feasible. I firmly believe it is.
[Theaterplatz]
A lot will be happening here on Theaterplatz and in many other places in the city over the next few years. Aachen is a really beautiful city and that's exactly what the people who come to us as guests say. Unfortunately, there is also the other side of the city with addiction, begging, homelessness and vacancies. We Aacheners have a strong desire for a beautiful and safe city. To this end, we want to set up the "City Center Tomorrow" process, in which we bundle all the forces in this city and bring them together for an Aachen of tomorrow that is robust, resilient and sustainable. To do this, we need people from retail, administration, politics, culture, urban society - everyone who contributes to the city center in order to move it forward. This will take time, but I am very much looking forward to starting this process with you this year with all my strength, because Aachen is really worth it.
[FH-Campus Eupener Straße]
In the city, we have the task of developing large areas over the next few years, for example here at the FH campus on Eupener Straße or at the RWTH West Campus. These developments are not yet so obvious, as they are still in the planning and design process. We have to coordinate these steps well with all those involved and, of course, those affected. It will take time, but in the end it will be really good.
Of course, we are also keeping a close eye on Continental's site in Rothe Erde, as we want to transform it into a future-proof production site with a focus on sustainability and digitalization. Of course, we will also be focusing intensively on our districts: Aachen-Nord, Forst, Driescher Hof and Richtericher Dell.
[Auguste von Sartorius-Weg]
Affordable housing is not only a scarce commodity in the big cities of Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, but also here in Aachen. But here in Auguste von Sartorius-Weg, we are setting an example of how we can build affordable and contemporary housing. We need much more of this in our city. The housing action plan will show us the way. But the space in our city is limited and we cannot and do not want to build everything up. That is why we will be convening a Euregional Housing Forum this year, in which we will look together with our neighbors at how we can find new ways to develop the area. We will also work with politicians to examine how we can build apartments as a city.
[Ludwig Forum]
Children, young people and families have had a very difficult time, especially in the last few months during the pandemic. That is why we will be focusing on this target group in particular. We will be offering a future workshop in which we will look together at how we can create better and additional offers for children, young people and families. Sport will play an important role in this, and we will support it.
As you know, culture is particularly close to my heart, which is why we will continue to support culture this year. We will be able to welcome some new faces to our city: two new museum directors, an event manager and a night mayor - you will be surprised. At the same time, the theater will have a new general director.
I am particularly looking forward to the city glow, because the independent cultural scene created a magical cultural atmosphere in many places last year. We want to take this into this year.
Of course, we need solid finances for all these measures, because our resources are finite. That's why we will work together with politicians to set up a dedicated target management system so that we can set the right priorities and move forward.
We need good staff for all these projects. Support us, we need good workers for our city.
I am very much looking forward to all citizens joining us in moving the city forward, for an Aachen that is climate-neutral, socially just, in short, fit for grandchildren.
18.11.2022