A property development project underway in Germany aimed at providing a safe and indiscriminative living environment for homosexual men and women has caused debate regarding the effects it will have on the community.

The unique project known as Villa Anders ('Alternative Villa’) is offering luxury accommodation to homosexuals of all generations in a district of Cologne. The purpose behind the development is not only to make the residents more visible in the community, but also to facilitate interaction with other gay members of society without having to face the bigotry often encountered by living in communities that are not exclusively for homosexuals.

Developers have recognised the 6.7 million euro project as a “commercially viable enterprise”, and although it will receive some state funding the scheme will fundamentally be self-financed.

The project has been met by approval from Germany’s homosexual community, with 55 of the 70 flats already taken by tenants who are due to move in by the end of 2009. Many of the flats are considered swanky and enjoy balconies overlooking the complex’s leafy green courtyards.  One Villa Anders tenant said the decision to move from his house in a suburb of Cologne to the gay estate has liberated him. Jens Liddy, aged 41, added,

“As a gay person I have spent my life playing a hiding game, making sure the neighbours didn’t know I was gay. I leapt at the chance to move into Villa Anders, because I feel I can finally be myself among people who have had a similar experience”.

Although Cologne is considered one of the most liberal cities in Europe and has Germany’s largest gay community, the scheme has been met with some disapproval. A number of people have questioned the reasons behind the project and believe it will cause a “ghetto” effect, by enhancing segregation between residents and the rest of the community. But Stephan Jungst, a spokesman for the project does not agree with the “ghetto” argument, believing the housing complex will put homosexual residents in the middle of the community. Another reason why Villa Anders may not be successful is because, for some, it follows several similar but unsuccessful projects inaugurated in other German cities. Amongst the failed projects included a gay retirement home, which opened in Berlin last year. According to Jungst the reason for the other projects failing was because of local opposition.

“The biggest challenge had been to work with neighbors to overcome prejudices”, he added.

Despite uncertainty regarding how successful Villa Anders will be, the organisers of the project, the Gay and Lesbian Living Association remain confident that the housing estate will encourage integration between homosexual people of all ages and rebut the “ghetto” tag many with which many have labelled the project. 

Gabrielle Pickard for RT