The scenes depicted in these pictures are becoming ever more typical of
Swiss cities. At present (September 2010) we get the feeling that there is a
recession, but the property market is actually booming. Older buildings are
being torn down to make way for up-market developments aimed at the
affluent. And there seem to be plenty of well-heeled people around who are
willing and able to pay 4000 to 6000 Swiss francs rent for a fancy
three-bedroom apartment. Time was when the inner cities were a cheap place
to live for the less well-off, old people existing on meagre pensions and
low-paid foreign workers. The city agglomerations were home to ordinary
hard-working families who could afford to live reasonably comfortably as
long as they kept within their budget. Not any longer! Older properties that
once housed these sections of society are being snapped up by property
developers whose social conscience (or lack of it) allows the less wealthy
to be evicted and their close-knit societies torn apart as they are forced
to seek affordable areas well outside city limits. The city of Zug, where
these photographs were taken, is no exception. People who have lived here
for years are moving out because they simply can no longer afford to pay the
rent from two normal working wages, let alone just one, not to mention
buying a home of their own. But let’s not push all the blame on to
enterprising entrepreneurs. Despite the high volume of new construction, the
percentage of empty apartments is very low. Add to this, well-qualified,
high-earning newcomers, many from Germany, are moving in and so it’s little
wonder that prices have risen so dramatically.
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