New hotel in Diefenbachgasse: Does nature come back?

New hotel in Diefenbachgasse: Does nature come back?

in Diefenbachgasse, the landscape will be changed in the near future by planting new trees. The reason for this measure is the construction of a large hotel that led to a significant loss of green spaces last year. As early as 2022, several trees had to give way to make room for the "Hampton by Hilton", which is now the largest hotel in Europe with 355 rooms.

The residents did not take this loss tacitly. The disappointment over the departure of up to ten trees is particularly noticeable among the residents. "The trees could have survived," said Elisabeth Foissner, a resident who carefully pursued the construction process. At first she had hoped that the trees would last despite the construction site.

replacement plantings and their challenges

Despite the drastic changes, the city gardens of Vienna (MA 42) recently approved a plan for replacement plantings. District head Dietmar Baurecht (SPÖ) announced that a total of 45 new trees should be planted. However, only 22 of these trees are actually placed on the spot, while a compensation tax is due for the remaining 23 trees. It is unclear exactly where these trees are ultimately planted.

Skepticism about the feasibility of the new planting is great. Foissner is concerned about the preparation of the soil along the left Wienzeile, which could possibly make the settlement of new plants more difficult. According to the hotel manager Eva-Maria Wittmann, who is responsible for the project, the greening is taken seriously. She announced that 18 new trees should be planted in front of the hotel in the course of October, and plants have already been integrated on the roof and in the inner courtyard of the hotel.

The residents are ambivalent. While some of the plantings are positive, the general tenor remains critical. "It is a shame that not all 45 trees are replaced," said Foissner. In her opinion, you pull yourself out of responsibility with money instead of really compensating for the loss of the trees. The question remains whether the compensation measures offered can meet the earlier shine and green design of Diefenbachgasse.