© RTL
The building located at the start of the road to Echternach has been vacant for almost three years.
The contract of the previous tenant was terminated after a yearlong court case treating the illegal extension of the building's terrace, prohibited due to its location in a protected area. Ever since, the house has remained in bad conditions. Owned by the Luxembourg government, only the absolute minimum of maintenance work, such as roof reparations, have been conducted over the past three years. Minister for Mobility and Public Works François Bausch conveyed this information in the context of a parliamentary enquiry, filed by MPs Françoise Hetto-Gaasch and Marc Lies from the Christian Social People's Party. The building was later secured with barriers and fences, and will be heated if temperatures drop too low, Minister Bausch further conveyed.
The Niederanven municipal council is now considering to get involved in the future of the controversial building. Mayor Raymond Weydert explained that he wants to offer the government a land switch, which would put the Waldhof building into the hands of Niederanven, while the municipality gives up the property on which the new local police department is set to be built. According to his assessment, the deal should eventually go through, although a number of minor details still have to be finalised.
Naturally, local officials want to know exactly which kind of work is allowed in and around the building. Preliminary reports note that several sanitation efforts need to be conducted to restore the property. Furthermore, the nearby purification plant has to be renovated.
Nevertheless, locals seem optimistic that a Waldhof café can once more be opened, a place where no more than 50 guests can sit and enjoy Luxembourgish specialities. Niederanven is committed to invest up to €2 million.
Upon enquiry, officials from the Luxembourg government decided not to comment on the issue.
