Stassfurt has "given up" its problem

Interview with Gerald Meyer

"The Kaligarten is a site to remember the traditions of the potash miners.”
Gerald Meyer minig office Staßfurt (retd.) and chairman of the miners’ association “Wiege des Kalibergbaus” e.V. Staßfurt

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The Kaligarten is a site to remember the traditions of the potash miners.” Gerald Meyer minig office Staßfurt (retd.) and chairman of the miners’ association “Wiege des Kalibergbaus” e.V. Staßfurt The consequences of potash mining, which began in the city over 150 years ago, caused massive mining subsidence in Staßfurt, thus destroying its historic centre. How do the townspeople feel about this?

Gerald Meyer: Staßfurt was a minor farming village on the river Bode until the discovery of the potash deposits. This development triggered a significant economic upturn, comparable with the Californian gold rush. The city profited hugely from the salt. When subsidence set in, no one worldwide had experience of it. The people paid dearly, and many houses had to be demolished. People increasingly moved away from the city centre, and this essentially became dysfunctional.

The IBA theme was “Giving up the Old centre” …

Gerald Meyer: It was a smart decision and a well-chosen slogan, because “giving up” could be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, to create a new city centre at a historic site, which every inhabitant can identify with and remember. Secondly, as “giving up the problem”, in the sense of moving on from the constant lament about loss and the “lack of new developments”.

Is the lake and the landscaped area around it a good, workable solution?

Gerald Meyer: It was one of many possible solutions, and a choice had to be made. There was no point building on the area. The geological surveys came out against it. In this respect, it’s a prudent solution. There’s no reason why the city centre shouldn’t be a recreation area. Plenty of cities have large parks in the city centre.

Coming out against it means …

Gerald Meyer: The survey of the mining subsidence area in the 1970s by the then mining inspectorate Magdeburg resulted in a comprehensive programme to monitor and analyse the subsidence in Staßfurt centre. After German reunification this was continued and intensified. The findings concluded that, because of the subsidence and the flooding associated with it, building in the area where the lake is located now is out of the question.

How were the mining office and the miners’ association of which you are a member involved in the planning process for “Staßfurt Centre”?

Gerald Meyer: The collaboration between the municipal authorities, the local building office and the architects responsible for planning was good from the start. Staßfurt is a small town, and the routes to discussions and decisions are short.

The name of Staßfurt’s miners’ association – “Wiege des Kalibergbaus” (cradle of the potash mining industry) – contains a reference to Staßfurt’s history. What roles does the club fulfil?

Gerald Meyer: Today, the miners’ association has some 70 members. However, the average age is nearly as high as the number of members. There’s no new blood. It’s therefore so much more important that we as a club pass on the mining history, in that we keep alive the customs and traditions of the potash miners, preserve the evidence of mining and educate young people especially about the diversity of industrial development in our region.

The “Kaligarten” (potash garden) was remodelled within the framework of the IBA. It is now a meeting place for miners …

Gerald Meyer: … and an expression of the positive collaboration between the municipal authorities, the building department, the landscape architects and the miners’ association. The Kaligarten is a site to remember the traditions of the potash miners of the city and the region. The world’s first potash mines have now been appropriately staged, and objects typical of the mining industry, such as a cable sheave and a mine car, may be seen. The site of the “cradle of the potash mining industry” is now distinguished by cast iron plaques, which were, incidentally, financed by funds collected by the miners’ association. Around St. Barbara’s day, the miners meet up with other associations from Staßfurt for a parade. Moreover, the guided tours of the historic city begin here – a good starting point, which leads to an understanding of the city and its history.

Info: Staßfurt

Population
(Municipal Area of 2010)
1989: 41.325
2009: 29.456
2025: 22.808 (Future Prospect)

Municipal Area: 146,53 qkm

IBA-Stadt-Monitor
www.stassfurt.de
IBA-Website of Staßfurt