Frost damage from 2024 is the reason why the new district parking garage in Wetzlar is slated for demolition. The new building on Karl-Kellner-Ring has stood empty for two years, despite being urgently needed. Now the Lahn-Dill district is planning its demolition and a completely new structure on the same site. Before the first car could even enter, the project has ended in total loss. (hessenschau: 13.02.26
Frost in 2024 – Meter-Long Cracks, Building Components Burst
The damage occurred with the frost in 2024 and struck the building shell to its core. Hollow-core slabs burst open in the parking garage levels, and fractures spanning 16 to 18 meters appeared. The district primarily blames an error by the construction company. It apparently did not install enough drainage holes, explains Sabine Amelung-Hildebrand, legal counsel for the district administration.
At the same time, other parties are involved, because the problem doesn’t appear to be solely a case of individual negligence. The architect and a material supplier could also be partly responsible. Ultimately, a court would have to assess the situation, but a trial would take years.
New construction instead of a lawsuit: Company to pay and rebuild
The district doesn’t want to lose this time and doesn’t want to have to maintain an expensive, long-term construction site. Therefore, it’s taking up a proposal from the company: demolition and new construction, paid for by the construction firm. The existing structure will be removed down to the basement, and a “system parking garage” will be built.
The plan is for a steel frame with custom-made concrete slabs and a wooden facade. The steel supports could be placed where the concrete supports are currently located, requiring a rethink of the structural design, but the basic logic remains the same. The final result should offer at least as many parking spaces as the existing building. The access route will also remain the same, while the district will handle the electronics and barrier system.
Committees and building regulations: Nothing is finalized yet
Despite the firm stance, the contract hasn’t been signed yet. The agreement needs to be worked out in detail, and then the district committees must approve it. Additionally, discussions with the city are necessary because building regulations need to clarify whether a new building permit application is required. Without these steps, the demolition will remain just a plan, even as political pressure mounts.
9.5 Million Euros for a Parking Garage That Will Be Built Twice
Financially, the project is becoming a textbook case, because in the end, a parking garage will be built twice. The district is currently budgeting around 9.5 million euros. That’s about three million euros more than in the initial plans, but still below the allocated budget of 10.2 million euros. Nevertheless, the public’s impression remains: first built, then demolished, then rebuilt.
The need is clear, as 300 parking spaces are a mandatory building requirement following the expansion of the district administration building. Until then, the district is renting temporary parking facilities and using alternative areas in the vicinity. This keeps operations running, but it prolongs the temporary arrangement. In Wetzlar, this illustrates an expensive pattern: when construction errors and bad weather coincide, urgently needed parking space becomes a demolition project.