The skyline stands for Frankfurt.
No other city in Central Europe boasts such a collection of skyscrapers.
They not only characterize the cityscape, but are also a sign of economic power.
Banks and financial services companies that have their offices in the towers may not have the best reputations, but their taxes contribute significantly to the prosperity and social security of this city.
Designating additional high-rise locations is certainly not the most urgent task.
Finally, office vacancies are rising again, and several new construction projects are currently under construction or in the planning stage.
And how demand will develop is unclear given the economic situation and the trend towards working from home.
Nevertheless, it would be an important signal if the city could finally present the update of the high-rise development plan announced for last year.
This would show Frankfurt that, even in difficult times, it is looking to the future with optimism, is counting on positive economic development and has a clear urban planning concept.
But the coalition of the Greens, SPD, FDP and Volt in Römer is having a hard time with it.
A certain skepticism can already be read in the coalition agreement.
When designating new high-rise locations, they want to proceed “basically with restraint”, it says.
Cautiousness is certainly appropriate when it comes to locations that investors want, but which are unsuitable in terms of urban development, such as Opernplatz.
Care should also be taken to ensure that development focuses on the existing clusters and that residential areas are protected.
However, if restraint means that the development of high-rise buildings should generally be made more difficult, it would send the wrong signal.
In this respect, it is good if an additional offer of ten to 15 locations is now emerging.
The intention to generally prescribe public uses in the towers in the future is also to be rated positively.
The respective district can benefit from this, and acceptance increases.
In any case, the coalition does not need to shy away from public debate.
Most Frankfurters appreciate the skyscrapers.
And there are also ecological reasons in favor of tower construction: It is a future-oriented design, since only a small area has to be sealed for a large volume.
In the coalition agreement, the four parties agreed to involve the public intensively in the high-rise development.
This participation must begin now.
So far too much time has been spent on internal debates.