Lucerne: Development of the EWL site is making progress
The Lucerne City Council is applying to parliament for funds for the first financing step of EWL Areal AG. This takes the planned development on the site one step further.
The city of Lucerne, the ABL Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Luzern and EWL Energie Wasser Luzern want to realize a new security and service center including apartments on the approximately 20,000 sqm EWL site. A mixed and ecological quarter for living, working and leisure is to be created.
For this purpose, the three partners have founded EWL Areal AG, the financing of which is to take place in two partial steps. Now, the first financing step up to obtaining the building permit has been applied for with a capital contribution of CHF 7 million as well as the project planning of the tenant fit-out in the amount of CHF 0.83 million.
The second financing step for the construction phase and the investments in the tenant fit-out as well as the rental, ancillary and maintenance costs for the municipal uses is expected to be put to the vote of the electorate in June 2021. The total municipal financial requirement for the participation in EWL Areal AG, for the investments in the tenant fit-out and for the future rents including ancillary costs is expected to amount to 71.2 million.
The City Council is convinced that the financing concept does not lead to higher costs over the entire life cycle than if the City of Lucerne were to construct the buildings for its own uses.
A project by Halter and Eberli Sarnen is realized
On the EWL site, the Rotpol project by the Halter/Eberli Sarnen consortium is to be realized, which was architecturally developed by Masswerk and E2A Architekten and by landscape architects Raymond Vogel.
ABL plans to build a total of 72 non-profit 2.5- to 5.5-room apartments, complementing the neighboring Cooperation Industriestrasse project. In addition, a care center with 81 rooms is being built by Viva Luzern.
EWL and the municipal service departments already located on the site move into new premises. In addition, the fire department of the city of Lucerne, the Pilatus civil defense organization, the city gardening department and bases for the road inspectorate will be located on the EWL site in the future.
According to earlier information, the total investment sum for the superstructure will be around CHF 200 million excluding tenant improvements. (ah)
