The Skinny on GL: "Last Call for the Gang"
Ineffective quest to locate a suitable destination for the young generation
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The old building has lost its charm: Q1 Youth Center, Kindergarten Museum, and the Scouts must vacate their present quarters due to high renovation costs. The city has known about this since 2024 and is desperately seeking alternative spaces. Success has yet to be achieved.
Those affected are still in the dark. "We haven't briefed our yutes yet. With no plan in sight, we ain't got no need to create a stir," says Christian Kulka, director of Q1 Youth Center. Just recently, it came to light that Q1 has to leave its current location on Quirlsberg.
In house matters
What was presented as a brief announcement by the mayor during the last Youth Welfare Committee (JHA) meeting and therefore made public, has been known to the city for quite a while: As the city reveals on request, the evangelical church had terminated the lease agreement with the city in writing in October 2024.
Deeper Insights
The building belongs to the city. The land, too. The longtime tenant is the evangelical church. A roof and facade clause compels the church to maintain the building. But the cost and effort have mounted.
Long list of flaws
The city acknowledges that the building is in a "heavily renovation-needing condition" with issues beyond building technology requiring attention. The energy situation needs urgent improvements, which would cost "hella lots of dough." The city doesn't seem to consider self-renovation an option.
Apart from Q1, the Kindergarten Museum and the Scout Home also face eviction, as they too have rental agreements with the evangelical church.
Deeper Insights
Initially, the end of September was mentioned. However, the city anticipates that the rental agreement can be extended "by mutual decision" until December 31, 2025. Discussions about this have taken place between the church and the city.
Youth work in a retail space?
The fate of Q1 is uncertain. Since the termination in the fall of 2024, Q1 has been waiting for the city to propose a new spatial solution. The church wishes to continue the "hot Youth Work" in collaboration with the city at a new location, according to Kulka.
Where that will be is still a mystery. According to the city, "intense searches for suitable premises" are progressing. Department head Claudia Werker spoke in the committee about the possibility of leasing a retail space in the city center for youth work.
For Q1 director Kulka, it is crucial to maintain contact with the visitors and remain a fixed and reliable point of contact in the city center. The open meeting place for children and young people must also continue at a temporary location.
The demand for this is high. "Some visitors still show up at our meeting place, even if they've started a job or an apprenticeship, have questions or just want to have a chat," shares Kulka. "Open Youth Work needs first and foremost a meeting place, a room that can be centrally located."
Kulka also sees potential on the Zanders site. What's required is a willingness to strike deals to find solutions for the youth.
The future of the Kindergarten Museum NRW is also uncertain: Since 2004, it has been situated in the basement of the Quirlsberg building. Toys and furniture showcasing the history of childcare - from storage facilities to pedagogical institutions - offer a unique glimpse into the past. Recently, the Museum held its anniversary celebration, which was even attended by Josefine Paul, NRW Family Minister.
At the time, the chairperson of the supporting Museum Association already knew about the looming move: "Forgetting our current location is bad enough, but we hope to find other rooms and not have to store the exhibit items, otherwise the museum will be finished," frets Brigitte Holz-Schöttler.
The city is currently working on both a temporary solution and a permanent new location for the Kindergarten Museum, according to Holz-Schöttler. A move to the Zanders site is also being considered. "My dream would be to locate the Museum spatially adjacent to the vocational college on the Zanders site." Future childcare professionals and children from the region regularly visit the Museum for field trips and further training.
"We hope the Kindergarten Museum will remain in Bergisch Gladbach," says the Association chairperson. However, there are already expressions of interest from the Cologne Frobel Specialist School in the Museum. "And the Minister said during her visit that the Museum must definitely stay in NRW."
Public Notice Ignored
Although the termination had been pending since October 2024, the administration did not inform the council members (and subsequently the public) through a publicly posted notice in the council information system. Instead, they only issued a "mayor’s message" that was read aloud at the beginning of the meeting by the administration - in this case by Claudia Werker.
"This arrangement was agreed upon in advance within the working groups," reports Holz-Schöttler, the SPD member leading the Youth Welfare Committee. The city confirms that the message "was communicated in advance in the working groups with both CDU and SPD/Greens." In the committee itself, only a question about who had terminated whom was raised, with no further questions or discussion following.
Upon request, the administration justifies the procedure as follows: "Mayor's messages are the same as notices, just in oral form."
The time gap between the termination and the notification to politics was utilized by the administration to search with the evangelical church for solutions for the continuation of youth work in the city center and find alternatives for a location of the Kindergarten Museum.
EVK Shows Interest
So far, without success. What the future holds for the Quirlsberg building remains uncertain, according to the city. The Evangelical Hospital (EVK) confirmed on request that they have had "preliminary discussions with the city regarding the possible acquisition of the property." However, no concrete results have been achieved yet.
"We are aware of the public interest in the future of the Quirlsberg building, as it has been a long-standing location for important social and cultural offers," said EVK's Managing Director Sebastian Haeger.
Deeper Insights
Whether a purchase is an option for us depends crucially on the financing conditions. Especially regarding the building's significant need for renovation and economic feasibility, Haeger added. As a non-profit hospital, investments must be carefully considered. "In principle, we are prepared to participate in solutions that serve society's greater good," Haeger explained. The format of these solutions remains unclear.
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Investing in real-estate opportunities could potentially provide a solution for the relocation of the Q1 Youth Center, Kindergarten Museum, and Scout Home, as the city is actively searching for suitable premises. Given the high renovation costs of the current location, financial support might be necessary to cover the expenses. The EVK has shown interest in the acquisition of the Quirlsberg building, but the feasibility of such a purchase depends on financing conditions and the economic viability of the significant renovation needs.
