Despite administrative hurdles: There is something going on at the old flour mill
There is an optimistic mood in Klybeck and the area is to have an ambitious start with the newly renovated Aktienmühle (flour mill) at Gärtner.strasse 46.
Over the years, many an ambitious project has failed to get past the authorities. The «Macherschaft» (the «makers of Aktienmühle») also attempted it, but the team behind it was successful.
In early 2010, the Habitat foundation bought the building and turned it into a model project for the ambitious area. At the end of 2016, the first workshops moved in. It was already clear that no other place in Basel had assembled such a variety of trades. What was missing up until now was a project tying the different workshops together in a way which appealed to the wider public. A public workshop is the goal.
From Gundeli to Gärtnerstrasse
The core team of the «Macherschaft» consists of Nicolai Diamant, Nicolas Beerli, Sarah Grossenbacher, and Ramon Müller. After the first experiences with the public workshop «Werkhof» in Gundeli they started working on and realising their dreams for a similar project at Gärtnerstrasse. And they had to realise: «It is all a process, and everything takes longer as you think it would,» they said. For the last two years they have been completely absorbed by their project. To secure the financing alone took nine months.
The «Werkhof» is a private project, however the «Macherschaft»is a public offering. The four had many plans: Different groups should meet different needs: A workshop for wood, metal, bicycles, and glass, one sewing and one pottery studio, and a lab. But this was closely observed by the authorities, because what is possible in the cellar at home is suddenly not always possible in public.
Five offices at once
Bad awakening for Nicolas Beerli: „The problem is that the «Macherschaft» doesn't fit into the pattern of the city,“ he said, adding that „a project uniting so many things at once is not planned.“ He adds: «The authorities don't see us as a workshop community but as different singular workshops. The «Macherschaft» is seen as trade.» When a voluntary association is measured as a trade under private law, the effort becomes immense. Five offices were present for the building inspection. This meant five separate sets of regulations and five approval procedures. Many things had to be abandoned; the metal workshop failed to meet the criteria, along with the glass atelier.
The pottery workshop. Picture by Macherschaft
Everybody agrees: «The administrative hurdles can be frustrating.» We are sitting in the courtyard of the flour mill with the team, where the last traces of the costly renovation can clearly be seen. The team is busy preparing for the grand opening. Is all well that ends well?
Ramon Müller recalled his experiences: «I felt helpless, a bit fooled. I want to do something great, why is it so bloody difficult?» The frustration can still be seen in Sarah Grossenbacher's face: «The building permit has put a spoke in our wheel.» The demanded ventilation system easily costs an additional 50'000 franks. Applications for the money must be prepared, further building applications and inspections, time, money, nerves. Multiplied by five this might quickly become too much.
Piles of work
The four were facing a pile of work, the planned goal was September, then May. «We had to abandon a lot otherwise it would have taken a year,» they say. Grossenbacher adds: «Even if you realise that it takes away some of the romance.» The project was also a real test for their friendship: «A honorary post has its own quality. Although it is collegial, it becomes an obligation and one has responsibilities.» The constant negotiation between friendship and profession is not easy when a meeting once again ends after midnight and the mood seems to change.
However, Nicolai Diamant also sees a positive side to it: «We don't fit into the system but this also makes us unique. And that was the goal we also attained.“ The missing projects is also a capital according to Diamant: «Now that the basic structure is here there is room for new ideas, e.g. an electro-group.»
Opening today (Saturday)
The workshop has been achieved - not exactly as it was planned but nothing was abandoned. The opening finally takes place today. They all agree: They would do it again – even if in a different way.
The hard work was recognised at the official start in May: Dozens have registered for membership, or have said they want to build their own table, even before they knew what they would get for it. In Basel, uncounted valuable projects are only possible through the tireless work of volunteers fighting against strict rules. It is time to give them space to have their say.
No overtaking at Grenzacherweg in Riehen
Since the start of the construction work at Aeussere Baselstrasse, many drivers have used Grenzacherweg as a substitute route – which affects the life quality of the residents and the safety of drivers.
In relation to this, the Social Democrats are calling for stricter measures to improving traffic safety and to reduce noise for residents. They wanted a speed limit of 30km/h to be introduced in busy Grenzacherweg, Kohlisteg, and Rudolf Wackernagel-Strasse. The Basellandschaftliche Zeitung reports that the community council also demanded speed limits of 30 in Bettingerstrasse.
The centre-right majority in the council however champions the opinion that the demands articulated by the Social Democrats would be understandable however they said further measures were „unnecessary“. Most demands did not get passed. Only the demand for a general ban for overtaking at Grenzacherweg was passed by the council. Before the construction works, only buses were affected by the ban.
Since the construction works in Riehen which will last several years more traffic inspections were conducted as a reminder to keep to the traffic rules. More than 1000 penalties were distributed within five months.barfi.ch has reported on this.
Insolvency is the end of «Aida» Verdi opera in Basel
The «Aida» opera by Verdi which should have taken place at the St.-Jakob-Park in Basel has been cancelled after the German event company Art & Entertainment Live GmbH became insolvent, the «Basellandschaftliche Zeitung»reported on Friday.
The German company had written in April that the planned «Aida. The Stadium World tour» had to be postponed to 2018 and the purchased tickets will remain valid until then.
According to media coverage it seems that already bought tickets would not be refunded. At least until the end of the insolvency process a refund was apparently not possible for legal reasons. The most expensive tickets were 198 Swiss franks.