Wolfgang Porsche, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the renowned sports car brand, is facing strong opposition in his home country over his proposal to build a tunnel through Kapuzinerberg mountain to lead to his private garage under his historic villa.
The 17th-century villa, formerly owned by renowned writer Stefan Zweig, was purchased by Wolfgang Porsche in 2020 for approximately $9 million.
Located on Kapuzinerberg hill, the villa overlooks the center of Salzburg, close to landmarks associated with the musical genius, Mozart. The current road leading up to the villa is narrow and winding, making access difficult.
To address this, Porsche proposed the construction of an underground garage with 12 parking spaces in a cross shape, connected to the city center by a tunnel through the mountain. The estimated cost of the project is €10 million.
The project was previously approved by the former administration of Salzburg in 2024. However, following the elections and a change in leadership, the plan has been temporarily halted.
The opposition, led by Ingeborg Haller of the Green Party, has questioned the legality and morality of allowing an individual to tunnel through public land for personal gain.
“What surprises people is that a wealthy individual can unilaterally change the city’s topography,” said Haller in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
The most controversial aspect is the need to adjust the city’s master plan to allow for the project to proceed. The Salzburg city council will hold a vote next month to decide the fate of the project, with the outcome still uncertain.
Faced with public pressure, Wolfgang Porsche has made some concessions: opening up the villa to public tours after the renovation is complete and allowing nearby residents to use the tunnel.
However, many still view Porsche’s intervention as a symbol of inequality. They question why an individual should be allowed to tunnel through an area considered a cultural heritage and public space, while public projects often take years to obtain permits.
Reactions from locals and the online community have been mixed. Some expressed their displeasure: “He’s 81 years old. Is there still enough time to enjoy the new road? If he has a driver, why bother with the curves?”
Others remained neutral or supportive: “If I had the money, I’d do the same.”
Hans Peter Reitter, a retired bank director in Salzburg, commented: “This is the politics of envy. We’re arguing about a private garage while the city has so many more pressing issues.”
Whether met with agreement or disagreement, Wolfgang Porsche’s private tunnel project continues to fuel debates in Salzburg, where the ancient past and modern needs increasingly clash.
TH (Tuoitrethudo)
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