Zurich: SBB stands by its "No" for the Neugasse project

Hopes that SBB will agree to a compromise project for the Neugasse site near Zurich's main railway station have been dashed. According to a report in the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, the railroad company has made it clear that SBB Passenger Traffic will use the site until around 2043. The newspaper quotes a letter from SBB Immobilien as saying that there are no plans for third-party use.

Originally, SBB wanted to build 375 apartments on the 30,000 square meter site, two thirds of which were to be rented out at affordable prices. A school for 200 pupils, commercial space for 250 workplaces and new green and open spaces were also planned.

However, an initiative demanded that all apartments on the site be made available at affordable prices. This was because it was feared that SBB would then rent out the apartments at market prices after a few years. Last December, the initiative was accepted with 50.26% of the votes.

SBB then made it clear that it would not be pursuing the project any further. It also rejected speculation that it would sell the site to the city. The Neugasse site would remain the property of SBB and subject to the current building regulations, it made clear at the time.

As the Tages-Anzeiger reports, the Zurich Left had hoped that the SBB would agree to a compromise housing project because it did not want to leave the site empty. (ah)