A bright summer morning in Cologne’s Ehrenfeld neighbourhood: small shops open their doors; a doner kebab kiosk throws on its grill, in the stalls in the market hall next door one buy espresso, antipasti, and sandwiches. In the background a lighthouse that one would only expect to see at the North Sea: The Helios Tower, constructed for test and research purposes at the end of the nineteenth century for the Helios AG factory, one of the first large electrical engineering companies in Germany.
Cut. Two nameless men in suits in a sterile room are standing in front of an architectural model. The model shows the plans for a large shopping mall around the lighthouse and the location of the market hall. They proudly point out that every detail of their concept had been discussed with the relevant authorities.
Not every resident in Ehrenfeld shares this enthusiasm. The owner of the espresso bar in the market hall reported that he doesn’t dare to expand or renovate his stand since the future of the hall is so unclear. Another hall renter reported close to tears that the new owner didn’t raise the rent but instead sent him a steep bill for the utilities: “I sent him a copy of the rental contract which clearly states that utilities are included in the rent”. Nothing happened for a week and then my contract was cancelled.
The aim of the chain-smoking district mayor is to bring people together and ask what does the citizen want? To find out he trudges in a suit through the former industrial wasteland around the future construction site and polishes off sandwiches in the market hall. His officials are further along in the process: Resident participation means for them “changes through clarification” and not, and they admit this, to pursue alternative suggestions. At the town hall meetings, residents ask questions about affordable housing and gentrification. They talk about “reclaiming public spaces” and form a citizens’ initiative to come up with some alternative solutions and make their struggle noticeable.
For over two years Anna Ditges, the Cologne writer and director of WHO OWNS THIS CITY observed the different interest groups in this struggle. She outlines the conflict between residents, project developers, and municipal authorities. And a third way between a mall and a city park emerges in the end: an inclusive university school will be constructed. In the meanwhile the Cologne city council announced its decision to buy the site for the school. The building plans are being revised and will be made final in 2016.

Christoph Selzer