Lucerne: New financing for EWL project approved
At the ballot box, the neighborhood project with apartments and offices for municipal companies receives a clear majority despite the considerable increase in construction costs.
The voters of the city of Lucerne have approved the financing for a major project. The bill "EWL Areal AG. Second financing step" was approved with 83% of the votes. This paves the way for the creation of a mixed-use district on the site with non-profit apartments, retirement homes and commercial and office space for the city's energy and water supplier EWL. The fire department, civil defense and emergency services will also have a new infrastructure.
The "Rotpol" project is being realized by EWL Areal AG. It is providing the other two main users, Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Luzern (ABL) and the city, with the land on a building lease. The second financing step became necessary after a significant increase in the construction costs of the project from CHF 211.5 million to CHF 244.8 million became known just over a year ago. The new calculation by general contractor Halter was confirmed by independent experts (IB reported).
EWL plans to start the first construction phase in summer 2026 and put the new EWL main building and the shed roof building into operation in mid-2029. The residential courtyard building and the base for the emergency services will then be completed by mid-2032. (aw)
