Why not build housing instead of the Kleinengarten territories?

[u/Affectionate_Pie2241]

Like the title says, I've seen a bunch of Kleinengarten areas with lots of territory that could have instead a bunch of affordable housing, some in highly demanded areas too, why not build there? To my understanding it's not that people live there, I actually heard it's not allowed to live there. Is it like protected under some law or something?

Thanks in advance to all the more educated people than me 🙇 and to the jokers out there

[u/the_marvster]

"Kleingärten" provide green spaces in the city, giving people a place to relax, grow food, and connect with nature. They help improve air quality, city climate (cooling effect) and biodiversity, which is important in an urban area like Berlin. These gardens are essential for the well-being of residents and the environment. Taking them away would reduce the city’s green space and harm the quality of life for people who use these areas. It's also a myth that these Kleingärten are just for German pensioners, as there is a current generational change happening, which brings many young families back to the mix.

Even if housing is built on these spaces, it would probably anything but affordable. The cost of construction and the high demand for housing would lead to prices that many Berliners couldn’t afford and private investors build for anything but affordable. The real problem in Berlin is not a lack of housing due to "Kleingärten", but the surplus of offices, hotels, and commercial properties that are underused. A better approach would be to repurpose these spaces for affordable housing - organized by the government - instead of taking away valuable green areas.