Page 242 - Beyond Decommissioning

Experience and lessons learned 223

site and stressed that there would be attention to inexpensive housing; 230 ha in the
middle would be left free. Despite reassurances, the Tempelhofer Feld initiative
gained enough signatures to impose a referendum. In May 2014, 64.3% of voters
chose to keep the site unchanged. Distrust was the main factor in killing the city’s
proposals, especially concerning affordable housing. The referendum means
Tempelhof will remain as is until 2024.
The main tenants of Tempelhof are the police. They occupy around 46,000 m 2
(15% of the total) and have been renting since 1951, when the US military began
renting out parts of the building. In addition to the police, there is Berlin’s traffic con-
trol authority, the central lost property office, a kindergarten, a dancing school, and
one of Berlin’s oldest revue theatres—to name a few of 100+ companies and institu-
tions based in the former airport.
Since it was opened to the public in May 2010, the site has been extremely popular
with families, joggers, rollerbladers, kite-flyers, wind-karters, urban gardeners, yoga
enthusiasts, and dancers.
The airport is also being used as a massive refugee camp. As of early 2018, 1200
refugees mostly from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan were housed in the airport’s former
hangars.
The long-term plan is to develop the area with direct community involvement, but
there are restrictions on options. Under the current legal regime, new buildings are
impossible. However, Tempelhof hosts major events, fairs, product launches, fashion
shows, and concerts (one in 2013 where Die Toten Hosen (The Dead Trousers) played
attracted 50,000 people). There are seven hangars, capable of holding from
2000–3800 people each (Independent, 2017a).

6.4.5 Mining lands

EPA defines mine-scarred lands as “lands, associated waters, and surrounding water-
sheds where extraction, beneficiation (crushing or separating), or processing of ores
and minerals (including coal) has occurred” (EPA, 2018b). A comprehensive review
of redevelopment issues and opportunities for mining lands is given in this reference.
Reportedly there are more than 500,000 abandoned mining sites in the USA. At min-
ing sites, environmental pollution can derive from mine drainage, waste rock, mill
tailings, and industrial activities. Moreover, these sites are characterized by acid mine
drainage (AMD, pH<4), high toxicity of the metals contained in the soil, nutrient
deprivation, and scarce, or no vegetation. Radionuclides are frequent ingredients of
the toxic mix. Cleanup and redevelopment provide an opportunity to convert these
sites into financially profitable or otherwise beneficial land. Depending on location
and other parameters, mining sites offer a range of reuses, including recreation
(e.g., golf courses), wildlife refuge, grazing land, historic, and scenic conservation,
as well as residential, trading, and industrial uses. Complex economic, social, and
environmental impacts should be factored in by communities or private investors
planning to redevelop these sites. In general terms the identification of relevant factors
and the consequent decision-making process on optimal reuse of mining sites is not
unlike other sites discussed in this book, but the outcome may be different. Plenty of