The ink is still fresh: the gymnastics and sports club and the community recently signed a local historical contract. Accordingly, after a marathon negotiation, the club's own gymnasium becomes the property of the Mittenwald market after 104 years
Mittenwald
– March 21, 2024 will definitely make it into the Mittenwald local annals. On this memorable day, Mayor Enrico Corongiu (SPD) and Andreas Knilling, chairman of the gymnastics and sports club, signed a significant contract with a notary in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In it, the TSV undertakes to hand over its hall, built in 1920, to the market town - at the point at which the new sports facility on the school grounds can be used by the club.
“This decision was not easy for our board of directors, but it is certainly the right one in the interests of everyone involved,” said TSV boss Knilling at the annual meeting in the very historic home that – still – faces an uncertain future. Demolition? Use as an event hall? A decision in the market town council is still pending.
With the latest signing, after years of what feels like slow motion, at least one important milestone has been reached. As a reminder: The then mayor Adolf Hornsteiner (CSU) first brought up the idea of building a triple sports hall in 2012. The so-called key points paper between the club and the community, which regulates the next steps, was signed by both sides at the turn of the year 2018/2019. Since then, a lot of water has flowed down the Isar without another countable result - and that was primarily due to TSV Mittenwald.
Knilling wanted to specifically address this again in his speech. “As is well known, the construction of the new triple sports hall on the school grounds on Mauthweg is closely related to our gym on Klammstrasse.” In addition to sports, this complex has become the main task of the board in recent years - everything has been carefully considered and thought through. “Ultimately, we have an obligation to our members to invest the club’s assets in the new triple hall in the best possible way.”
Headaches and sleepless nights
In this context, the TSV chairman also recalled the club's social mission. “Because the new sports facility is important for maintaining the school location, we ultimately made our event hall available to the citizens.” Which had caused many headaches and sleepless nights. After all, the good old TSV hall is a sporting home to which quite a few members are attached wholeheartedly.
Knilling praised the uncomplicated cooperation with the market town and Mayor Corongiu. Many years have passed since the key issues paper was signed, “but the contract had to be revised several times because both sides had demands and interests that had to be taken into account,” Corongiu explained. However, the community and TSV always negotiated on an equal footing. “Very cooperative,” says the town hall boss. “But given the rising construction prices, it could have been quicker; after all, we weren’t negotiating about a birdhouse, but about the traditional building of TSV Mittenwald.”
Until the keys are handed over, the local council will discuss the various possible uses of the event hall.
Mayor Enrico Corongiu
But Corongiu can absolutely understand the cautious approach of the club management. “It is important to take into account that our contractual partners are voluntary board members who do everything in their free time and always have the well-being of the members in mind.”
Finally, a few points had to be regulated in the purchase contract, such as the time of handover of the site. The Mittenwald market will only officially become the owner of the 1,617 square meter, 770 square meter developed property on Klammstrasse once the triple sports hall has been completed. “Until the keys are handed over,” adds Corongiu, “the local council will discuss the various possible uses of the event hall.”
When scheduling the groundbreaking ceremony for the future sports facility at the Karwendelschule, Corongiu became more defensive for good reason. He is now cautiously anticipating spring 2025. With a maximum construction period of two years, the facility should open in spring 2027 at the latest. Then the TSV from 1892 moves into the modern rooms and finally hands over the keys to its hall to the market town.
Wolfgang Kunz