Two years ago, the LAWOG housing cooperative acquired the OKA settlement in Gmunden and decided to complete the historic settlement: two blocks of flats that were originally planned but never realized are now being built. A total of twelve new apartments will be built. However, under stricter conditions of the municipality: An underground car park must be built for the parking spaces, and not a single one of the twelve apartments may be marketed as a secondary residence. Nevertheless, there are protests from residents in the existing apartments. They criticize that numerous old trees have to give way to the houses and that more ground is being sealed. In addition, some existing parking spaces will be lost.
From the point of view of Mayor Stefan Krapf (ÖVP) and City Councilor Rüdiger Fritz (FPÖ), however, the housing project meets the criteria. “The buildings fit in well with the existing building,” says Fritz. “Better to build here than in the periphery.” Mayor Krapf says: “As a building authority, I have to approve a project if it complies with the law. Otherwise I would be abusing my office.”
Source: Nachrichten
