New shine for the Goebbels-Villa? Wandlitz is looking for fresh concepts!

New shine for the Goebbels-Villa? Wandlitz is looking for fresh concepts!

The once magnificent villa of the Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, located on the picturesque Bogenensee north of Berlin, proves to be an attractive goal for investors and project developers. Although the site has been exposed to decay for two decades, around 100 inquiries have recently reached the municipality of Wandlitz. This demand signals a growing interest in a possible revival of the area, which has so far remained unused.

The municipality is now required to examine the offers received. Before that, however, a comprehensive study will also be necessary that analyzes the potential of the site in more detail. The study is expected to cost 870,000 euros, of which 590,000 euros are to be covered by federal funding. The municipality itself will contribute 280,000 euros as an own contribution.

Long-term plans for Goebbels-Villa

on the 17 hectare site, where Goebbels' country house was once, there was a youth college during the GDR era. However, the area has not been used since 2000 and is increasingly neglected. The municipality of Wandlitz and the district of Barnim are now committed to a new use that takes into account the historical heritage and could possibly make a contribution to promoting democracy.

A concept that promised a significant residential development for around 4,200 new residents, but was rejected by the municipality as unrealistic. The current use of the Bogensee area is geared towards tourism and education, which is why other approaches such as a demolition of the Goebbels-Villa or a comprehensive renaturation are also considered. The Senate Department for Finance in Berlin confirms that the realistic concept suggestions are currently being dealt with.

Financial considerations are pushing for quick decisions. The monthly costs for the maintenance of the area amounted to around 280,000 euros in 2023. In addition, between 2019 and 2022, the state of Berlin invested around 4 million euros in emergency security measures to temporarily defuse the ailing situation. Therefore, rapid clarification of future use of the area is of great importance in order to minimize the enormous running costs in the long term.