Luxembourg City's municipal council announced a €4 million cost increase for the Gasperich park project, now totaling €20 million, citing expensive material costs and unforeseen work while also approving funds for an educational farm and a temporary gymnasium.
In a session of the Luxembourg City municipal council on Monday, it was announced that costs for the Gasperich park would increase by €4 million. While members of The Greens (Déi Gréng) stand firmly behind the project, they did lament that the council was not informed about the price increase earlier on.
With overall costs now around €20 million, council members wanted to know which circumstances contributed to the spike. According to explanations given at the meeting, expensive material costs and unforeseen work are the main reasons. Alderman Maurice Bauer of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) labelled the park a "green lung" of the city and noted that a price would not be surprising for a project this size.
Further projects approved
Although technically not on the territory of the capital, the 18th-century farm Roudemerhaff will be turned into an educational farm for children after private donors decided to hand over the 4ha land to turn it into a social project. Costs for the initiative are expected to be €12.5 million. According to CSV Alderman Paul Galles, the goal is for children to learn both about nature as well as about history.
Finally, while the new school complex in the Dommeldange district is still undergoing construction, municipal officials agreed to free €8 million to finance a temporary gymnasium, though it is not clear at this stage whether this facility will have a future once the new complex is ready.
