Today's binding area on the Sachsenhäuser Berg in Frankfurt is to remain a commercial site for the time being.

Representatives of the coalition of Greens, SPD, FDP and Volt spoke out in favor of this on Friday.

"I can well imagine that it will stay that way, because we have a shortage of commercial space," said the group leader of the Greens, Dimitrios Bakakis, when asked.

However, the city also needs land for residential construction.

The SPD faction leader Ursula Busch argued similarly.

She advocated holding talks with the Binding brewery first to learn what the company intends to do with the property.

Manfred Koehler

Head of department of the Rhein-Main editorial team of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

  • Follow I follow

Gunter Murr

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

  • Follow I follow

In order to secure the brewery location, the approximately five hectare area was only designated as commercial space in a development plan in 2012.

The land use plan also provides for commercial use.

"This is a good location for it," said Marcus Gwechenberger, advisor to Mike Josef (SPD), head of the planning department.

The neighboring residential development on the former Henninger site is well protected from noise, for example by multi-storey car parks that act like a bar.

In addition, the windows of the apartments in the Henninger Tower cannot be opened at certain times so that the residents are protected from noise.

Residential land would be more valuable

When Binding planned to relocate the brewery to Bad Vilbel in 2009, there was already a debate about the future of the property.

Officially, the city held on to the commercial location at the time.

But in the background there were already considerations to expand the residential area on the Henninger site to include the Binding brewery.

The question of future use has significant financial implications for the property owner.

For the brewery site, the city surveying office currently shows a standard land value of 300 euros per square meter, on the Henninger site the value is seven times as high.

Local politics had not been informed in advance of the Radeberger Group's plans with Binding.

"We are very surprised, not to say dismayed," said Bakakis.

"It's always a cultural loss when a traditional regional brand leaves the city." Now it's a matter of securing the future of the 150 employees.

Relocating them to other locations is usually not socially acceptable.

"Especially in the current situation with rising prices, this is catastrophic for the employees," emphasized Busch.

CDU faction leader Nils Kößler spoke of "sad news for the employees and the city".

Frankfurt is losing a piece of history and tradition.

CDU: Magistrate should have been informed

According to Kößler, economic reasons are decisive for the closure.

Nevertheless, he does not want to release the magistrate from responsibility.

"The question arises: When did the head of the economics department know about the plans?" A well-networked magistrate who is close to the company must be informed about such developments and react if necessary.

Ursula Busch, on the other hand, is of the opinion that nobody can be blamed.

"If someone wants to go on a trip and has already bought a ticket, you can't stop him." Although Stephanie Wüst (FDP), Head of Economic Affairs, wants to talk to the Radeberger Group again, Bakakis doesn't have high hopes: "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it."

NGG reprimands Radeberger

The managing director of the Rhein-Main region of the food, pleasure and restaurants trade union, Hendrik Hallier, spoke on Friday of a "raid-like decision" by the Radeberger Group.

"We're not going to put up with that," he added.

Hallier was skeptical about the consequences for the Binding and Henninger brands if their beers were brewed elsewhere in the future.