The Senate wants to make Friedrichstraße in Berlin more attractive.
© dpa
Fewer parking spaces, more greenery, more places to sit on the sidewalks, and sparkling asphalt: Friedrichstraße in Berlin's historic center is to be redesigned as a promenade and made significantly more attractive.
This was announced by Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) when presenting the plans at the Rotes Rathaus. "We all know that the current state of Friedrichstraße is unacceptable," he said.
"After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Friedrichstraße became an interesting shopping boulevard. But unfortunately, those days are over," lamented the CDU politician. "We want to develop Friedrichstraße into an urban, attractive boulevard again." The goal is its comeback. Among other things, there are plans to widen the sidewalks on the section between Schützenstraße and Unter den Linden and to eliminate parking spaces for this purpose. This will also create space for additional street trees, but also for seating areas in front of cafés, for example.
"Friedrichstraße is not in good condition," stated Tobias Nöfer from the Berlin-Brandenburg Association of Architects and Engineers. He pointed to "dreariness, gray, and helpless flower pots." The current 12.50-meter-wide roadway is to be narrowed to 7.50 meters, he explained. An eye-catcher is also planned: a "starry sky" made of brass nails will reflect the light at intersections and create a special atmosphere.
A speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour will also contribute to the quality of life, as Wegner explained. Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) acknowledged that there are an above-average number of accidents on Friedrichstraße. The new concept will also contribute to greater road safety. It is not yet possible to say when the plans will be implemented and how much they will cost. However, Bonde announced a feasibility study.