Blocked construction site in Unterengstringen ZH: Empty detached houses instead of new living space

Community playing for time

“We could have saved ourselves a lot of effort. We didn’t know where we were for a long time,” says Magni. He is sure: “The community will deteriorate the construction site.”

B&L also believes they are lingering by the community on the outskirts of Zurich. “In recent years, we were able to build three apartments on the same street. It worked flawlessly – and suddenly we can’t do that anymore,” says the managing director, who will not be named. But why? After all, there is an urgent need for living space.

The community argues that the majority of local residents oppose the development plans. But only about 100 of the more than 4,000 residents attended the public event. The municipality wanted to see what the needs and interests of the people were with this participatory event.

“I don’t think even a fraction of the community population is aware of the planned construction projects,” says the managing director. “To be honest, we think that the complaints come from people who call this hillside their home and would object if there were construction in front of it or next to it.”

Striking: According to the municipality’s website, several people from both the city council and the construction commission, such as Mayor Marco Rossi (FDP), live in the planning district. The home of mayor Marcel Balmers (SVP) is also in the closed construction zone, as the city has confirmed.

“The slope must maintain its character,” says the mayor. This stands for “green and loose neighborhood development”. On the other hand, the community aims to concentrate along Zürcherstrasse. In other words, it is on the main street, which is already the most densely populated area.

Apartments are popular

Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) recently published a study on intensification. “Everyone is for intensification, but unless it’s just on your doorstep,” says study author Ursina Kubli, 43, Head of Real Estate Analytics. It now takes an average of 140 days from the zoning application to the building permit. That’s 67 percent longer than in 2010. The more densely populated the area, the longer it takes.

Additional living space and its location on the slope are in great demand. Because the apartments already built by B&L in Unterengstringen sold like hot cakes. “The remaining flats from the last construction were sold within a week”.

That’s why Magni has also invested in construction land. The company has a good relationship with the former owners of detached houses. Two families have already moved, so the houses are empty. An elderly couple stays at home until the excavators start working. They wanted to move into an apartment on the new site.

This may take some time. “The municipality does not need to approve any applications until mid-2026 and can extend this period for another two years,” Magni says. The municipality itself speaks of a “breath” to create building and zoning regulations in peace. Given the current housing situation, this is almost a mockery.