A former student home, Theodor-Litt-Haus, stands on the site and it is currently still being used by the city as accommodation for migrants. In its submission the city administration states the site is, “in a prime position on the Rhine, is particularly suited to use as a hotel in the standard to premium range, in particular to offer visitors to events in the Beethovenhalle – as the main arena during the Beethoven year 2020 – suitable overnight accommodation in a city location.” The city did not give any answer to the question posed on Wednesday as to whether there were already any potential investors.

As previously reported, the building is in such poor condition that it is not worth renovating. It is to be demolished. When plans for the concert hall were rejected, there was an animated debate in the city hall about the further use of the site.

The outcome was the council should look at the conditions under which public government-funded housing could be built there. Then the flood of migrants arrived in Bonn and the building was turned into a home for migrants.

The Left Party criticised the hotel plans on Wednesday. Councillor Holger Schmidt said: “This not only clearly contradicts the continuous assertions of wanting to build affordable housing, but also the council decision to find a plan for the site that provides social housing.” CDU party leader Georg Fenniger sees things differently: “A hotel is not a bad thing. One should certainly build something that fits with the idea of have a music campus there.”

(Original text: Lisa Inhoffen. Translated by Kate Carey.)