Aarau: Stakeholders agree on "Plan B" for football stadium
The disputes surrounding the football stadium project in Aarau appear to have been resolved. Those involved in the project now want to pursue "Plan B" quickly.
Aarau City Council, HRS Real Estate, FC Aarau and Meinstadion.ch have agreed on the "Plan B" project variant. This provides for cross-financing with four high-rise buildings on the construction sites in Torfeld Süd. Accordingly, construction of the new football stadium will not begin until legally binding building permits have been obtained for the planned high-rise buildings.
In view of the current cost calculation, it was agreed that there were no viable options for interim financing, according to a joint press release. The idea of decoupling the stadium and high-rise construction was therefore rejected.
The Aarau city council's rough schedule is to be adhered to. This envisages the stadium being built by the 2022/2023 season. The following steps are planned in detail:
On April 3, 2018, the City Council will deal with the public circulation of the partial revision of the stadium usage plan with the amendments that were developed following the consultation process. The stadium committee recommends the public consultation.
HRS undertakes to begin demolition work by May 17, 2018 at the latest to ensure that the building permit does not expire.
The City Council will submit the amended "Torfeld Süd" design plan to the cantonal preliminary review and start the consultation process no later than one month after the draft design plan is available (expected in June 2018).
The definitive purchase agreement between the city of Aarau and HRS for the stadium will be signed in August 2018 at the latest.
HRS will submit the revised planning application for the stadium to the building permit authority by September 2018 at the latest.
The adjustment of the amended Torfeld Süd design plan following the public consultation should be completed by the end of December 2018.
HRS will submit the complete planning application for the four high-rise buildings to the building permit authority in spring 2019 at the latest.
If HRS does not begin construction of the stadium within three months, even though the stadium and high-rise buildings have been legally approved by the end of 2021 at the latest, HRS will compensate the city of Aarau with a lump sum of CHF 2 million for planning costs incurred. The compensation will be due as soon as the planning regulations permit a new development without a stadium.
HRS will also support FC Aarau with CHF 200,000 each for the next five years (from the 2018/19 season) - over and above its existing financial commitment as a premium sponsor. This is intended to bridge the club's economically difficult period until the new stadium opens. The payments are conditional on the approval of the BNO by the people in December 2018.
