The Rotenkreuzgasse in the neighborhood of the Karmelitermarkt has been restructured, which has cost many thousand Euros of taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the sidewalks as well as the street have once again been resealed with water-impermeable asphalt. If at least the sidewalks had been unsealed, i.e. if they only had been covered with a water-permeable and lighter stone pavement, the Rotenkreuzgasse would not so easily heat up during heat waves. Rainwater could moist the ground. During heat waves – which will hit the Karmelitermarkt neighborhood more frequently in the future – the water of the moist ground can evaporate, a process that cools down the street. In the Kleine Sperlgasse such a lighter, waterpermeable stonepaving has been used.

Grätzeloasen (neighborhood oases)- https://graetzloase.at -are a welcome initiative to create sitting spaces and green areas with flowers in front of your own building. Nevertheless, they do not solve the issues with the increasing temperatures during heat waves in the Karmelitermarkt neighborhood. Grätzeloases are positioned ontop of asphalt that significantly heats up during heatwave days.

Till today, there is no further reaching out of the district mayor regarding the concerns of the Karmelitermarkt-initiative. Despite of his word given in August 2023.