Züblin parking garage: standstill on the path to urban development in 2027!

Züblin parking garage: standstill on the path to urban development in 2027!

In Stuttgart, the Züblin parking garage has been the subject of heated discussions about its future for over five years. While the local council decided on a concept for district development in July 2022, particularly with a view to the International Building Exhibition 2027 (IBA'27) and the connection of the Leonhardsviertel with the city center, progress has since fallen by the wayside. The parking garage was actually supposed to be upgraded as a central element of urban development, but little has happened to date.

A feasibility study on the building structure was commissioned, but the use of the parking garage as a parking space remains. A contract with Breuninger, the nearby shopping center, has been extended, so the urgent need for parking will not decrease. Only a few projects such as urban gardening and the “Utopia Kiosk” could be implemented as alternative uses - and that is still not enough. In view of the developments, the plans for interim use appear to have been quickly slowed down. The shine of the parking garage is fading more and more, and the SPD/Volt faction is already asking about the status of things in this uncertain game. Particularly bitter for the city administration: the originally intended “competition of ideas” for the allocation of land could come to a standstill.

The long road to new use

The complexity of urban development should not be underestimated. Andreas Hofer, the IBA director, recently expressed his disappointment at the standstill, but still sees opportunities for future planning. The tender for future use is scheduled to go on the market in 2026, and the award to an investor could take place by 2028. However, the city administration reiterates that economic efficiency is the priority and that vacancies should be avoided in tenders. Will the Züblin parking garage ultimately be realized as an IBA project? The answer “no” is becoming increasingly likely.

The discussion about urban spaces and green open spaces is more current than ever. The advantages of such green spaces are undisputed; they increase the quality of life in cities. Examples from North Rhine-Westphalia show that urban greenery not only enhances the cityscape, but also brings health benefits. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Building, Housing and Transport (MWEBWV NRW) and the Institute for State and Urban Development Research (ILS) have been committed to sustainable development for years, including with regard to urban agriculture.

A look into the future

When we think about the possibilities at the Züblin parking garage, we learn a lot about the interaction between city planning and urban greenery. The challenges are great - whether it is about adaptation strategies to climate change or the question of how we can find new financing models. In fact, we learn from these challenges how important it is for different actors, both from the city administration and from civil society, to work together to find solutions.

The future of the Züblin car park remains exciting, and we can look forward to seeing what impulses will emerge from the work in urban development. It remains to be seen whether it will benefit urban greenery and residents' quality of life in the long term. In any case, the discussion remains lively - and that's a good thing!

Further information can be found at: SWR, Kessel.tv and University of Hanover.