Several old and abandoned industrial sites in various locations in Cologne are currently being developed to realize their immense potential. "Turn old into new" is the motto of numerous project development companies, which are seizing this opportunity to counteract the current shortage of residential and commercial space by creating new urban districts.
The most important construction projects are presented below:
Parkstadt Süd:
A new district is to be built on a planning area of approximately 115 hectares over the next few years. On the site, which was once mainly used for industrial purposes and included the former cathedral brewery and the Bonntor freight station, around 3,000 to 4,000 apartments and 4,000 to 5,000 new jobs will be created around a 26-hectare green space.green space. The land use and open space concept was designed in line with current expectations for promoting housing, creating a working and community atmosphere, and ensuring a balanced mix of uses and neighborhood-friendly organization. Since the site has not yet been cleared, it will be some time before the excavators roll in. This also includes the relocation of Cologne's wholesale market to Marsdorf in 2023.
South of Mülheim:
Things are also happening on the other side of the Rhine. Action is already being taken there: northeast of the Mülheim harbor lies the former headquarters of Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG. The manufacturer of engines and industrial plants is still partially active here, but the site is increasingly losing importance.
Due to its central location and great potential for urban development, the site is to be transformed into a green, diverse, and lively urban quarter. The historic buildings, some of which date back to the 19th century, will be preserved and incorporated into the plans. The majority of the site is to be developed into an urban residential quarter with approximately 10,000 apartments.
The district will be developed by several owners. In the southern part, for example, Cologneo I and II are to be developed. Half of the planned 60,000 square meters in Cologneo I will be built in the old building, which will house a hostel, restaurants, co-working spaces, and 484 apartments. The partial neighborhood is expected to be completed in 2021.
In Cologneo II, a 24-story high-rise is planned in addition to residential, office, and commercial space. However, this part of the quarter is still in the development planning process, which could be completed in 2020.
Deutz Harbor:
On the right bank of the Rhine and within sight of the cathedral, another urban quarter is to be built in five to eight years. Deutzer Hafen is no longer in use and offers 37 hectares of space for the creation of a lively and urban district. The design by a Copenhagen-based architectural firm includes commercial space and apartments for approximately 7,000 people, a third of which will be allocated to publicly subsidized housing. Furthermore, the Deutz harbor basin is to be opened to the public and the industrial charm of the site is to be preserved by integrating the old crane and crane tracks into the project, for example.
There is currently a high demand for residential and commercial space in Cologne – and this trend is set to continue! The current total demand for apartments by the end of 2029 is 66,000. The projects mentioned above, which also focus particularly on the development of apartments and publicly subsidized housing, are now being tackled to meet this demand.
