No one has ever engaged in conversation with the proprietor of Mexico Square Station, as stated.
The S-Bahn station Mexikoplatz in Zehlendorf is undergoing a significant transformation as the extension of the U-Bahn line U3 is being implemented. The planning for this station conversion includes the construction of new tunnels, access and exit routes, lifts, intermediate floors, and over- and underpasses.
Located at Mexikoplatz 1, the station is owned by Thomas Drechsel, the head of the fast-food chain "Wurst-Maxe". Drechsel purchased and restored the dilapidated, listed station building in the Jugendstil style back in 2001. However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the planning process, stating that he was not consulted.
The planning team has focused their work all around the property of Thomas Drechsel. The U-Bahn station Mexikoplatz is planned to have its exits and access routes on the south side at the Lindenthaler Allee, outside the station. This decision, according to Drechsel, could have been more cost-effective and less inconvenient for passengers if the station exits were designed within the station building.
The BVG and the Senate's department for the planning approval procedure are involved in the planning of the U-Bahn station extension at Mexikoplatz. Oktay Yurdakul, head of the Senate's department for the planning approval procedure, emphasized the importance of public participation in the process. In response to this, Drechsel was allowed to participate in the discussion at the Free University.
Despite owning the property, Thomas Drechsel has not been involved in the planning process so far. Common urban planning practices and property rights suggest several possible reasons for this, including the station being held under easements or public transport land use regulations, or the planning process being led by a governmental or transit agency with mandated authority. However, without specific details from authoritative sources on Mexikoplatz's U-Bahn station transformation and ownership, these remain speculative.
In a bid to downplay the impact on Drechsel, BVG project leader Torsten Brenner stated that there would be no structural impairments for him. Yet, Drechsel, who has previously restored the station building, expressed regret that he was not consulted, stating "They should have just talked to me...".
Today, six businesses, including a bakery, a bio-butchery, and a fruit shop, are housed under the historic dome at Mexikoplatz 1. As the transformation of the station progresses, it remains to be seen how these businesses will be affected and whether Drechsel's concerns will be addressed.
- In light of the transformation, Drechsel might consider investing in other areas of his lifestyle, such as home-and-garden projects or real-estate ventures, to secure his financial future amidst the changes at Mexikoplatz.
- The planning of the U-Bahn station extension at Mexikoplatz has raised questions about the balance between private property rights and public infrastructure development, a topic that impacts not only Drechsel but also other property owners near transport initiatives.
- The extension of the U-Bahn line U3 at Mexikoplatz is not merely a matter of transport infrastructure; it also implicates the lifestyle and finances of those, like Drechsel, whose properties and businesses are caught in the middle of its implementation.
