Why the Sachsenbad has been empty for 30 years: political standstill?

Why the Sachsenbad has been empty for 30 years: political standstill?

The Sachsenbad in Pieschen, which has been empty since 1994, continues to cause unrest in Dresden politics. The original plan was to convert the listed building into a modern multifunctional center that would accommodate, among other things, offices, a yoga studio and a sauna world. A purchase agreement with the city, signed in 2021 for 1.1 million euros, should provide a basis for the initial implementation of this plan. But to date the hoped-for building application has not yet been submitted. This was recently announced by André Schollbach, the parliamentary group leader of the Left.

Although a corresponding application was supposed to be submitted by July 2024, this deadline has now been postponed to January 2026. “We have been waiting for progress for years and so far there has been nothing concrete,” said Schollbach. In February 2023 it became known that large parts of the building were in a dilapidated condition and contaminated with pollutants, which further complicated the situation.

Planned demolition work and new construction

The current plans not only provide for the demolition of the old building, but also a new building that will be extended to the neighboring property to the north. This aspect repeatedly raises critical voices from local politics, as there are numerous open questions about clearance areas and rights of way that urgently need to be clarified. The city council has scheduled a decision for December on the purchase proposal of at least 605,000 euros, which could be an important basis for further action.

André Powilleit, the Montis project manager, emphasizes that after the council's decision in December, they would finally like to start submitting the building application. If everything goes according to plan, the project could be completed and opened in 2029. However, the sale of the adjacent property could also result in new deadlines for the planning application, which could prolong the matter again.

A look at the general conditions

What many people don't know is that a sophisticated process often has to be followed when submitting building applications. For example, only authorized persons, such as surveyors or notaries, can access data from the property cadastre. This ensures that the information required to submit an application is legally protected. For example, any digital application must contain the intended use of owner data and, in cases where access is granted on behalf of an organization, appropriate authorization is required.

Essentially, the situation surrounding Sachsenbad shows that large projects are not just a question of financial resources, but also depend on legal and planning aspects. The road to a modernized Sachsenbad is still long and the patience of the citizens will continue to be tested. The hope of seeing the first tangible progress soon remains.