Simone Neumann-Geimer has owned a daycare centre for 25 years on Rue Victor-Hugo, Esch-sur-Alzette. The planned "Portal Eent" ("portal one") high-rise is to be built right across from the creche and Neumann-Geimer is keen to try and stop it.
She explained that she is fighting the construction plans with the petition, as alone she will not be able to change anything, but together, residents can make their protest known. The area is a residential neighbourhood and the tower does not belong, according to Neumann-Geimer.
So far, the petition has collected 250 signatures. Residents' concerns come from an environmental and urbanist perspective, as they fear for the quality of living. The petitioner Nico Helminger explained that the high-rise will tower over some of the houses, giving residents the impression that a wall is blocking the sun from them.
A further concern relates to traffic, which would increase with the project. Local residents also criticised the municipal authorities' information policy, as the authorities had initially voted for a project without the high-rise. Yet, suddenly the construction project is ready to go again. The petitioners criticised that the authorities did not announce the modification and more crucially, not every member of the municipal council was aware of the change.
Residents stressed that they are not against the entire project, but mainly against the idea of the high-rise. Neumann-Geimer expressed her support for the project, as the area has an issue with dirt and drugs. However, the petitioners are clear that the issue does not require a 70-metre high tower.
Petitioners squashed the justification that the high-rise tower would mean that the area would have more green space, as the difference would be minimal. On Monday, the municipality did not comment on the issue, as it will investigate the issues raised by residents first.
Construction project "Portal Eent": 60 metre tower to be built in Esch-sur-Alzette despite criticism
