Kita Paul-Küstner-Straße: Mold and vacancy cause chaos!

Kita Paul-Küstner-Straße: Mold and vacancy cause chaos!

The closure of the daycare center at Paul-Küstner-Straße 2a in Leipzig raises numerous questions among parents and residents. The facility was closed in early 2023 due to massive mold infestations, compounded by deficiencies in the sewage system. A report to remedy the defect was already commissioned at the end of 2022, which ultimately led to the decision to close the daycare center. In January 2023, experts discovered mold infestation in the plasterboard walls. The children had to be temporarily relocated to the day care center at Holbeinstrasse 84.

While the renovation of the daycare center is scheduled to be completed by summer 2024, the facility has remained empty since June 2025. Although the city of Leipzig's website may give a different impression, the daycare's outdoor facilities are well maintained and a rubbish container can be found in the yard. In April 2025, a call for tenders for the sponsorship of the daycare center was published, but this came late due to a change in demand and a strategic realignment of the city's daycare center network. The tender period ended on April 30, 2025, and plans are underway to put the daycare center back into operation after the funding process has been completed.

Sponsorship and future of the institution

On June 16, 2025, the Youth Welfare Committee will receive a proposal for future sponsorship. Whether the daycare center can be reopened in 2025 depends on the decision of the youth welfare committee. It remains unclear to what extent the daycare network could be thinned out, which could lead to a shortage of daycare places in the region. These uncertainties are fueling fears among parents who are in urgent need of childcare.

Another chapter in the Leipzig daycare landscape concerns the Montessori daycare center “Villa Kunterbunt” at Köhlerstrasse 7, which has been located there for 25 years. The city administration terminated the rental agreement for the daycare center in September 2023 with a request to move out by the end of 2024. The shock among the parents and the parent council was great, especially because of the lack of communication and the fact that no discussions were held between the city administration and those affected from September 2023 to January 2024.

Alternative solutions and support for families

In February 2024, the city proposed moving “Villa Kunterbunt” to Paul-Küstner-Straße, which was met with incomprehension by the parents. In order to ensure child care, the parents' council initiated a petition for a rent extension of two years and an alternative facility in the area. However, this was rejected. The discussions between those involved only began again after the head of the youth welfare office was fired in May. Finally, the administration and sponsors agreed that the daycare center would be transferred to municipal ownership.

In August 2024, an agreement was reached that ensures the continued existence of the daycare center on Köhlerstrasse and provides for a transition period of up to three years in order to give the affected families time to find a new, suitable solution. After this period, the daycare center will move to Stötteritzer Straße. This decision was made to give daycare employees the opportunity to apply to the new location and to provide affected families with a smooth transition.

In summary, the daycare landscape in Leipzig remains tense and it is unclear how the city administration will respond to the needs of parents. Parents and providers hope for early solutions to ensure appropriate care for their children. Further developments are eagerly awaited.

For more information you can read the reports from L-IZ as well as Cruiser Leipzig see.