The sun is shining over the American quay next to Fiskhamnen, but the only floating fabric that is visible is a lone luxury yacht that has been allowed to rent space. At the moment, both the Danish and German terminals are empty of ferries.
Asphalt and parking spaces and the fate of people – despite the parade location by the Göta River and only half a kilometer from the crowds at Järntorget.
Various thoughts about a brighter future for the area have already been raised, a signed star architect Gert Wingårdh who put forward sketches with 1,000 homes around a revitalized fishing port area – but which received thumbs down by the municipality’s planners.
So now give up The Center Party enters the discussion with its own track:
– Here, Gothenburg has a completely unique chance to create something fantastic that both creates jobs and another reason to travel here, which at the same time connects to an important part of maritime history that we have a responsibility to nurture, says AnnaSara Perslow.
In the incipient local election movement she sits with Emmyly Bönfors on a concrete suction at Amerikakajen / Stigbergskajen, from where the Swedish America Line’s Atlantic steamers in their time brought hundreds of thousands of people to the USA.
Bönfors is the municipal councilor and group leader for C, while Perslow is the deputy group leader and chairman of the park and nature committee. Together with the others in the council group, they have drawn an idea sketch that they hope the people of Gothenburg in general will be inspired by.
The Center Party has an idea for a new maritime center for Gothenburg
The sketch is intended as a basis for discussion.
In their PM with heading “A maritime history center – To open up a quay area dedicated to Gothenburg’s maritime history” There are no ready-made political proposals, no investigations into economic or practical consequences.
– See it as a first input in a discussion that the city and relevant businesses need to have a dialogue about, says AnnaSara Perslow, who raised the issue.
The actual precondition for the C-sketch was the announcement in January that the municipally owned Port of Gothenburg had signed an agreement with Stena Line that the company would leave its quays as early as 2027 to move to Arendal on Hisingen.
Thus, the city comes over a many hundreds of meters long area between the so-called Oscarsleden and the river, where the planners and politicians envision a location for exploitation of international top class.
– We need to take a holistic approach when Stena moves and here there are fantastic opportunities to create a kind of maritime center with a direct connection to the Maritime Museum, says Emmyly Bönfors.
On the idea sketch it is this year, the House of Emigrants closed down one of the components.
– It is quite shameful not to take responsibility for it, it was the last of Sweden that many in previous generations saw before they took the ship to the US, it is a central place in our history that needs to be highlighted and part of the collection is supposed to exist left, says AnnaSara Perslow.
Ten days ago, the East Indiaman sailed Gothenburg on a tour with the goal Shanghai in September next year. But what will happen next with the replica of the 18th century ship is unclear. In 2016, it was thought that an agreement had been reached that it would become a kind of floating museum where the new one Masthuggskajen today is emerging.
But that thought fell, the city did not want to take the cost. Now the Center picks the East Indiaman in the sketch. “By creating a new berth for her at Amerikakajen, she is naturally connected to our proud history,” the party writes.
– Combine that with an exhibition. Together with the military vessels from Maritiman (next to the Opera, DN’s note), whose location has long been charged, an important place to visit can be created for young people and perhaps you could also bring fishing boats here, with a larger area, says AnnaSara Perslow.
The C-representatives also point to the maritime educations that are centered in Gothenburg.
– By connecting future generations, this maritime history center will not only be a hub for the cultural history we have inherited in part, but we have created something important to leave behind for future generations, says AnnaSara Perslow.
When asked by DN whether they agreed with the idea with the friends in the ruling Alliance, Emmyly Bönfors says no.
– But I feel that our political friends are interested in raising shipping.
Could this imaginary marine center cost taxpayers anything?
– You have to find out what it might cost. But we have a responsibility for the cultural heritage, and an investigation should of course be done together with both the region and the state museums.
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