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Schwabenlandtower: A curse for Fellbach's construction projects?
Find out more about construction freezes, failed projects and the current future of the Schwabenlandtower in Baden-Württemberg.
Schwabenlandtower: A curse for Fellbach's construction projects?
The current news situation paints a bleak picture for some large-scale construction projects in Germany. The example of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is symbolic of the difficulties that often accompany such projects. The Stuttgart 21 rail project is also in full swing, but the opening is not expected until the end of 2026 - a development that has many people looking skeptical Swabian reported.
Another problem child turns out to be in Fellbach with the so-called Schwabenlandtower. The “Le Village” hotel complex, originally planned in 1992 and intended to contain 215 upscale single-room apartments, was never completed. The investor filed for bankruptcy in 1995, leaving the building vacant. At times the ruined building was even inhabited by rats and was used by rescue workers for disaster control exercises. The positive development that many had hoped for has so far remained little more than a stale aftertaste.
A tower with many faces
There were new hopes in the early 2000s when an English investor group presented a concept for “Heron City”, a shopping, adventure and fitness center. But citizen protests against the dimensions of the project led to the immediate cancellation of the plans. Even a proposal for a ship-shaped brothel was rejected. Instead, the idea of a high-rise building, initially referred to as a “Gewa 5-to-one tower,” was brought into play. After several adjustments, the project grew to an impressive 34 floors with a height of 107 meters and a slim, elegant design.
Although there was initial euphoria, resistance to the construction remained almost constant. However, the shell construction progressed slowly. The name “Schwabenlandtower 107” came into being in 2015, accompanied by a new concept that now provided for 194 rental apartments instead of the previously planned 66 luxury apartments. But the tower's fate seemed sealed when it went bankrupt and construction stopped in 2016. The ruins remain empty to this day and have even become the new home of peregrine falcons, which have settled in the ruins.
What happens to the ruins?
Ebner Immobilien has now acquired the area, but future plans are vague. There are seven variants for further development, all of which must be coordinated in collaboration with the city of Fellbach. But whether there is still a ray of hope for this tower that has become a symbol of failed construction projects remains to be seen.
We're keeping our fingers crossed that these stories don't just become a thing of the past, but that something tangible comes out of these many plans. While there are hopes in Fellbach that the construction work will be successfully completed, the example of Berlin remains a reminder that major projects can sometimes stumble.