Present: Arno Döpper, Bodhi Neiser, Matthias Larisch, Bernd
Notary: Arno Döpper
Location: Berlin, Weeze

Topic: The buildings Bernd and the Gemeinschaftsstifter project have to offer

Outcome:

• Gemeinschaftsstifter project is very cooperative!
• Dürrenberg train station has fire damage but could be an interesting opportunity nevertheless
• Harz project can be a possibility for future gatherings of big scope

Minutes

Minutes Translation: Janina Abels

Bernd: I found yunity some days ago. Gemeinschaftsstifter Harz is not a very active project. For some background info, I had a computer shop for a long time, but renewable energy (especially bigger solar power plants) and communities and communal living are the topics of my life. Therefore I worked into that direction also in my professional life. I'm 44 years old and have a 13-year-old daughter. I got hold of a lot of buildings, initially with big solar projects in mind.
ML: Stiftung Freiräume is very interesting to us, but we just see what they have to offer at the moment.
BN: Up until now Saasen just felt right. We imagine a WuppHouse to be used functionally, but this is still in the process of being discussed. We give this a lot of thought and have also already experienced our fair share of communal living, even though it was in changing locations and thus pretty laborious and tiring.

Bernd: Do you already have a concept for your communal living? Like, do you have a method to resolve conflicts?
ML: Systemic consensus. Concrete structures are not yet finalized.
BN: Important topic. I have seen many communities and I know that we still need to think more about this and develop a real concept.

Bernd: Okay. Do you have questions regarding the building?
BN: What are the financial circumstances? Where did you get the buildings?
Bernd: So far we have one building in mind for yunity. We got the train station Zwittau because of the solar panels The warehouse in Meißen also because of solar panels. At that point in time we didn't think, that the buildings could host communal living projects. There was some personal change. Back then I had a computer store, but now not anymore.
The train station Dürrenberg was bought directly from Deutsche Bahn and - for me - had something to do with a personal crisis. It was kind of an emergency thing. Train stations are my personal favorites, since I don't drive a car and train stations are reachable by train. So far nothing sustainable was arranged with these objects. I'm not motivated to start anything with businesses or architects. There was the idea to work with a kindergarten (1,5 million -), but then nothing came out of it. There really is not much motivation to make something commercial out of it.
ML: Sounds amazing!
BN: What about the surrounding land?
Bernd: That still belongs to Deutsche Bahn and is probably not for sale anymore. The neighboring land is not used much and I don't really know what's going on with it or who owns it.
ML: There are many different ideas and visions in yunity regarding a WuppHouse, but I think it's possible to invest some money.
BN: What about the fire damage?
Bernd: Was inflicted 2013. A lot got demolished afterwards and for organizational reasons we didn't put up an emergency roof (even though it would have been easily possible...). So three years of weather later, the ceiling can't take much anymore. It could be renewed though, and this would create some kind of hall.
ML: And regarding the fire in 2015..?
Bernd: That was vandalism. There were a lot of fires after people breaking in.
AD: Do we need to be afraid, since we are kind of a left-wing project..? 
Bernd: I don't think so. In the past there were left- and righ-wing youth projects using the building simultaneously. If there are people present, I don't think there'd be other incidents like these.
BN: What exactly are the 20-30k € you mentioned about?
Bernd: Those would cover renovation works and some parts of the roof in the tower section, which need to be renewed. But it's not much, really.
ML: What about water and electricity?
Bernd: The main electrical power supply needs to be renewed. The main power distribution was located in a part of the building, that was demolished 5 years ago (there is a bike parking spot now). That's why the power distribution needs to be set up from scratch.
ML: So the 20-30k € are more like an estimate?
Bernd: More or less. It's an estimate based on experience and the most pressing things need to be done.
ML/BN: We are very motivated and not at all in doubt to find other people willing to put in some work!
ML: We'd love to just move in quickly and then - over the course of some months - complete the necessary work on the building, while already living there. That's the ecological concept.
Bernd: Sounds good! Sad, that nothing happened with the building so far. Grassroots-fun sounds much better: full of life and beautiful!
ML: Sounds good, really! Is it possible to visit the building?
Bernd: Generally yes. We should talk more about some fundamental things. A meet-up would be good.
ML: Yes, a meet-up with multiple people who'd like to move in.
Bernd: Warning: The buildings don't look very fancy from the inside, especially for people who have no idea of construction work! So expect humidity, dirt, animal feces, mold and a general creepiness and challenge. But it's definitely doable!
ML: Don't worry, we already made our experiences... As long as there is no damage to the substance we just start in one corner and work our way up to the last refinements.
Bernd: Yes, that'd be the approach.
BN: What about heating?
Bernd: There is heating using ovens, but it has been vandalized. Installing gas heating would be an option, since there is a gas connection.
BN: Chimneys?
Bernd: Have been renovated in the 1990s, they're fine.

ML: We still need to get more clarity on the expectations of each other.
Bernd: this one text on Slack (disbandment of the project?)
BN: Very possible. There'll soon be an association formed.
Bernd: It's maybe a good idea to relinquish all rights as long as the project (yunity) exists. Just keep out of it as long as it's active and then seek new a new Stiftung.
ML. Sounds good. Are there already ideas for the legal setup?
Bernd: That's definitely needed. Funding body? We should sit down in person and talk about this again. Worst case would be forced sale of the building.
ML: What about the cost, would you be willing and able to provide the needed money?
Bernd: Generally yes. But I wouldn't spend 20-30k € to then just hand the outcomes to you. But that's also not sure yet.

ML: So, the concrete next steps would contain a personal meet-up soon, I guess?
Bernd: There should be a paper about the funding body. Just a rough idea. Then we can meet, but we could also just plan a meet-up now.
ML: Should this paper be co-created with you or should we write one ourselves?
Bernd: Co-creation is always better, but a first draft can be done individually, too.
Bernd: Where are all your people living right now? Do all of them want to make this their home?
BN: A lot of us live nomadic and some would definitely want to move in.
ML: Some can imagine it very well. It would enliven the place, that's for sure.
Bernd: Sounds good! Are there connections to traveling craftspeople?
BN: Most left-wing housing projects have a good overview. We could ask them.
ML: Workaway could also be a possibility.
Bernd: So, how do we tackle this? We need to create a good feeling and put energy in as soon as the plans become concrete. External people joining the meeting would also be beneficial. Maybe journeymen or the ecovillage Sieben Linden?

Bernd: More info on the Harz project: Huge compound, auctioned mid-2014. A former children's hospital with 9000 square meters on 21 hectars. The plan was to have a full-fledged eco-village there. A lot of people in their 30s and 40s were involved and it looked good, but after some time one person, who was pasrt of the funding body, was not so motivated anymore. A deep conflict about the funding body and posession in general arose. Lots of experience were gained, so that we know now to avoid something like this at all costs and have a very close look at funding body issues before.
[The Harz project can be a possibility for bigger gatherings in the future and is definitely worth a closer look!]
BN: Would the Harz project be a possible host for next year's Und jetzt?-conference?
Bernd: Could very well be!
[Everybody will think about this and see how they feel for now. The new information will be discussed in the different projects]
BN: Couldn't we apply for funds to get the reparations and renovations done?
Bernd: Theoretically yes, but it always depends. The region is definitely good for securing grants and chances are good.
[Everybody is thankful to everybody... ]