In conversation with RTL Radio, Blanche Weber claimed that the municipality of Luxembourg City missed an opportunity for green zones, environmentally-friendly transportation, better connection to other quarters, as well as alternative housing concepts with the planned residential quarter on the former Villeroy&Boch premises in Mühlenbach in Luxembourg City. Furthermore, Weber alleged that the municipality only reserved 10% instead of a minimum of 15% of social housing in the area.
Luxembourg City alderman Serge Wilmes refuses to let these accusations stand and claims that Weber is spreading “fake news”. He explained that the housing project actually represents a real change for the Mühlenbach and Rollingergrund areas.
Wilmes elaborated: “It is incomprehensible to me how she can make such statements. It only shows that she has no idea about the project and has spent no time studying it. The area will have 800 apartments, out of which almost half will fall into public hands and thus be affordable.”
The alderman also addressed the accusations of having not enough green zones: “There will be a park and people will actually live in one of the greenest locations in the capital, with two forests right on their door step. Furthermore, it is likely that we will construct a lift to connect the residential area to Limperstberg.”
Wilmes further explained that with the construction of the residential district, the Mühlenbach and Rollingergrund areas will also get their first shops that can easily be reached on foot or by bike. He noted: “It is a project for the future and exactly what we need.”
When asked about Weber’s claim that the City tries pushing ahead with less than 10% of the project reserved for social housing, even though the new Housing Pact requires a minimum of 15%, Wilmes replied: “The particular building plan was already completed and filed last year, which means the old Housing Pact still applied.”
Nevertheless, the CSV politician assured that close to 40% of the project will be owned by the municipality of Luxembourg City: “This part will therefore be fully classified as affordable, social, or shared housing. This means that out of 800 apartments, we will have close to 400 that fall under market prices.”
The alderman concluded that the construction project represents one of the largest undertakings for the city and that Blanche Weber’s statements are therefore false.
