Kriens: Construction of the Pilatus Arena draws closer

Those responsible for the Pilatus Arena AG project company had still partially adjusted the project after the first reading. For example, instead of the CHF 2 million originally envisaged, the company is now paying Kriens CHF 5.7 million in value-added tax.  

This was only possible because the condominiums "even more attractive concept developed" The new building will include coworking spaces and a wellness and sports area, as well as services such as deliveries from the restaurant. "That justifies a somewhat higher price," says Toni Bucher, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pilatus Arena AG. In addition, the company is dependent on the construction of the Pilatus Arena being able to start in 2021; any further delay would further increase the costs.  

Also the traffic concept was further elaborated, among other things almost 400 additional bicycle parking spaces were planned - in total there will be 1,549 parking spaces for bicycles. 

Negotiations are now to be held with the hall's anchor users and agreements drawn up, while at the same time the building application is being prepared. Marketing of the 170 condominiums in the 110-meter-high Pilatus Tower, which are needed to finance the hall, is scheduled to begin in autumn 2020. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2021. 

Meanwhile, the newly formed "Less is more" committee has launched a referendum to prevent the Pilatus Arena from going ahead after all. According to the committee, it is "opposed to the project's delusions of grandeur and the squandering of money". The extreme densification envisaged would be reckless in terms of urban planning, landscape and ecology, and would lead to traffic problems that could hardly be solved. The sports hall is also planned to be too large. The initiators of the Pilatus Arena rejected the accusations in an open letter. (ah)