Mayor Andreas Ramharter’s real estate company (List Zukunft Leobersdorf) sold the property for 15.25 million euros and received an extra 1.34 million through reallocation, reported “WZ”, “Falter” and ORF. When asked, Ramharter defended the deal and saw no bias. Criticism came from several quarters.
According to reports, Ramharter’s holding company acquired the land in 2021 and sold it to a building contractor in two tranches over the following two years. The contracts contained two so-called purchase price improvements in connection with reallocations until the end of 2024 on the meadow – which was largely already dedicated to building land. A strip along the federal highway dedicated to public traffic should become a building site for the operating area, and a second public traffic area should become a private road. Ramharter’s company committed to “actively pursue these rezonings in good faith and to support them in the best possible way,” as it was stated in both purchase agreements, according to the reports.
“Attempts to bring about dialogue failed”
The reallocations were carried out with local council resolutions in 2023 and this year in September, and the mayor himself also agreed. “As the market town of Leobersdorf, we have dealt with the issue of bias on several occasions and also pay very close attention to compliance with the relevant legal requirements,” said Ramharter, according to the reports. When asked on Wednesday, the mayor confirmed that there was no bias. He did not comment on purchase prices.
According to the media, the Mauthausen Memorial emphasized in a written statement: “Immediately after the planned use of the area for commercial purposes became known, the Mauthausen Memorial drew attention to the problem of commercial development.” But “repeated attempts to bring about a dialogue failed.”
“We handled it cleanly”
Ramharter, on the other hand, spoke of contact with the Mauthausen Memorial and the Federal Monuments Office: “We worked through it properly and always sought cooperation.” For example, ground radar surveys and explorations were carried out in the area. It was agreed not to build basements in order to preserve the foundations, said Ramharter. The designation as an operating area has existed for a long time. He also noted that several areas that served as storage during wartime had already been repurposed.
According to the reports, the Federal Monuments Office confirmed that it had held “discussions with stakeholders”. We have no influence on zoning. The area is not under monument protection. There are, among other things, the foundations of barracks on the grounds in Leobersdorf where the Hirtenberg concentration camp subcamp stood. “From the current perspective, these remains – even in comparison with other former, archaeologically identifiable camps that are under monument protection – are not sufficient within the meaning of the Monument Protection Act to place them under monument protection,” said the Federal Monuments Office, according to reports.
“Unbearable oblivion of history”
The SPÖ spokeswoman for the culture of remembrance, Sabine Schatz, described the construction plans on Wednesday as an “unbearable forgetfulness of history” and called for the project to be stopped. “The historical responsibility towards the victims of the Nazi era requires that these places be treated with respect,” said the member of the National Council in a broadcast. “The fact that profits were made by repurposing these areas has a very pale aftertaste.” She called for federal intervention to secure the site as a memorial site in the long term. SPÖ federal women’s chairwoman Eva-Maria Holzleitner believes it is important to “carry on the memory of the fate of women under National Socialism.”
“What we are observing here is a frightening example of how historically sensitive land is dealt with when economic interests are in the foreground,” criticized Helga Krismer, club leader of the Lower Austria Green Party, in a press release. The planned construction project is “an example of the worrying development of spatial planning” in the state: “It is particularly worrying that there are always people profiting from this development in the mayor’s environment.” Krismer announced an application to amend the Lower Austrian Spatial Planning Act, which provides for a ban on development on historically contaminated properties.
“Need for action regarding control mechanisms”
NEOS state party leader Indra Collini saw “an enormous need for action in the control mechanisms within municipalities” as well as the need to think about a stricter values compass for mayors. “In the case of the Leobersdorf case, it will be necessary to examine exactly what the local council knew in this complex rezoning vote and what perhaps it did not,” she said in a broadcast.
“The questionable property deals show once again that there are massive structural problems in spatial planning,” WWF soil protection spokesman Simon Pories called for competence reforms as well as stricter laws and controls in a broadcast. In addition, it must be ruled out that mayors are allowed to work in the real estate or construction industry at the same time, because this opens the door to potential incompatibilities when rezoning.
The Future Leobersdorf list holds the absolute majority in the local council. In 2020, 53.30 percent was achieved. Local council elections will take place in Lower Austria in January 2025, and Ramharter will be the top candidate for the Future Leobersdorf list.
How does Mayor Ramharter plan to engage with critics and community members regarding the ongoing real estate controversy?
**Interview with Mayor Andreas Ramharter on Recent Real Estate Controversy**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Mayor Ramharter. There has been significant scrutiny surrounding the real estate deal involving your company, List Zukunft Leobersdorf, especially regarding the sale of the property for 15.25 million euros. How do you respond to the criticism about potential bias?
**Mayor Ramharter:** Thank you for having me. I want to be clear that I see no bias in this transaction. We have adhered to all legal requirements and the sale has been completely above board. The property was primarily designated for development, and we acted within our rights to pursue opportunities that benefit the community.
**Interviewer:** Critics have highlighted the historical sensitivity of the land where the Hirtenberg concentration camp subcamp was located. The Mauthausen Memorial expressed concerns about commercial development and has attempted to initiate dialogue, which reportedly failed. What steps did your administration take to address these concerns?
**Mayor Ramharter:** We’ve maintained communication with relevant stakeholders, including the Mauthausen Memorial and the Federal Monuments Office. We conducted ground radar surveys to ensure that any construction would not compromise the integrity of the area. Importantly, we agreed not to build basements to preserve historical foundations. It’s crucial to balance development with historical respect, and we believe we’ve done so responsibly.
**Interviewer:** The SPÖ spokeswoman has labeled these construction plans as an “unbearable forgetfulness of history” and is calling for a halt to the project. How do you justify moving forward with the development given this perspective?
**Mayor Ramharter:** While we appreciate the input from cultural representatives, we have a responsibility to the broader community as well. The area has been earmarked for development for a long time, and many other sites with historical ties have already been repurposed. We believe that our approach is respectful while also considering the needs of our residents for economic growth and infrastructure.
**Interviewer:** Concerns have also been raised regarding the influence of local council members in potential conflicts of interest related to your real estate dealings. What assurance can you provide to the public regarding transparency in these processes?
**Mayor Ramharter:** We are committed to transparency and compliance with all legal frameworks. Our local council is aware of the complexities surrounding these decisions, and we take their insights seriously. We regularly review our processes to ensure they align with ethical standards. Moving forward, it’s important that we continue to engage with the community to build trust.
**Interviewer:** with local council elections on the horizon in January 2025, how do you plan to address these issues and restore confidence among your constituents?
**Mayor Ramharter:** We will continue open dialogues with the public and local organizations to address their concerns. It’s vital to move forward together, and I’m committed to ensuring that we integrate community feedback into our planning processes. My top priority is to serve the people of Leobersdorf and make decisions that positively impact our future. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify our stance.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mayor Ramharter, for sharing your insights on this complex issue.
**Mayor Ramharter:** Thank you for having me.
