Samih Sawiris’ marina project in Isleten UR picks up speed again
Published: Monday, Mar 25th 2024, 16:30
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Egyptian investor Samih Sawiris has redimensioned his marina project planned for Isleten UR. The originally planned project perimeter has been reduced by 30 percent in order to meet with greater approval from the local population.
This now measures 37,000 instead of 55,000 square meters, as Isidor Baumann, overall project manager of Isen AG, said at Monday's media conference on the site of the former Cheddite explosives factory. Among other things, the boat harbor, the heart of the project, has been reduced by half its size.
A three- to four-star hotel with 50 rooms and 30 hotel apartments is still planned. However, the floor space has been reduced in the new project, which means that a five-star hotel is no longer possible. The eight apartment buildings have also been reduced in size and now contain 70 instead of 100 hotel apartments.
According to Samih Sawiris, the project perimeter cannot be reduced any further as it would no longer be economically viable. "That would be a loss-making business," he said. If the project continues to be rejected by the population, he could imagine selling the property or using it as private land for himself.
Renaturalizing the lakeshore and stream
The new project also takes environmental protection concerns into account, said Baumann. Where only minimal renaturation of the area was planned in the 2022 project, the new project envisages larger renaturation areas.
The lake shore is to be revitalized over a length of 200 metres and made accessible to the public as a leisure and bathing area. To this end, Bauenstrasse is to be relocated uphill from the junction with Isentalerstrasse to the entrance to the construction tunnel. The landing stage of the Lake Lucerne Navigation Company will be moved 150 meters northwards.
There are also plans to open up the Isentalerbach, which was previously a canal. According to Baumann, a "natural river course" is to be created. The Isentaler Delta will also remain unchanged and is to be enhanced in a near-natural way.
Baumann emphasized several times that accessibility to the entire site was guaranteed for the public. The accusation that the project was only accessible to certain privileged users was thus denied.
Municipalities and canton on board
The new project has met with approval from the canton and the municipalities of Seedorf and Isenthal. The cantonal government sees real added value for Uri in terms of the economic and tourism potential of the project idea, said cantonal councillor Daniel Furrer (center).
In order to be able to recognize the regional economic and tourism impact of the project at an early stage, the government commissioned a potential study. Interim results showed that a one-off added value of CHF 150 million and CHF 14 million per year after commissioning could be assumed.
However, the investment costs that will be incurred by the public sector must also be taken into account. For example, if the cantonal road is relocated. The exact amount of these costs would have to be determined in one of the next project phases.
"We note that the main points of criticism have been corrected in the new draft," said Toni Stadelmann, mayor of Seedorf. Now it is time to clarify communal issues, such as the potential impact on property prices, tourism and traffic.
In order to make the project possible, the land still has to be converted from an industrial zone to a tourism zone. The outcome of the popular initiative "Isleten for all", which was submitted in June 2023, must also be awaited. The government will decide on its validity in August. A vote could probably take place in November.
©Keystone/SDA
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