Hilden before the local elections: set the right economic course!

Hilden before the local elections: set the right economic course!

In the run-up to the local elections on September 14th, the Düsseldorf Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) presents its expectations of Hilden's local politics. Loud RP Online, the need for action is particularly high in the areas of commercial space and transport infrastructure.

Hilden enjoys great popularity as a sought-after commercial and industrial location. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the available space is limited. There are only a few marketable properties left in the “Kreuz Hilden” commercial area and on the Nordring. The city is therefore required to make brownfield land usable again through recycling and to promote stacked uses in existing areas. The municipal real estate company still only has open spaces in a few places and aims to attract job-intensive companies. An interesting requirement is that ten new jobs should be created for every 1,000 square meters of commercial space sold.

Mobility as a growth driver

A well-thought-out mobility concept plays a central role in economic growth in Hilden. The concept, which is due to be adopted at the beginning of 2025, is aimed at efficiently controlling traffic flows and promoting new forms of mobility. These include measures such as intelligent parking space management, the optimization of traffic light switching and the use of digital traffic control systems. The aim is to reduce motorized individual transport and promote environmentally friendly forms of transport.

The vitality of Hilden's city center is supported by a successful mix of retail, restaurants and services. A high centrality, a considerable footfall and a low vacancy rate demonstrate the attractiveness of the retail location. The new city manager's initial activities to strengthen the weekly market and seasonal promotions in particular have received praise, while the IHK is offering support in city marketing, which has been part of the economic development program since April 2024.

Tax challenges

The tax policy situation is proving to be problematic because Hilden has placed an additional burden on its company by differentiating the assessment rate for property tax B. There is also talk of introducing an accommodation tax of two euros per night from 2027, which could likely further impact the competitiveness of hotels and guesthouses. The IHK speaks out clearly against these measures and calls for the accommodation tax and increases in real taxes to be waived.

Outside Hilden, the situation in many inner cities looks tense. How Difu reports, many city centers are affected by vacancies, the closure of traditional shops and falling visitor numbers. These challenges are often not new, but have been exacerbated by the pandemic. To counteract this, there are funding programs at federal and state levels that are intended to encourage innovative concepts to improve the quality of life in inner cities. The vision is clear: inner cities should become more diverse and multifunctional, with offerings such as living spaces, art and cultural institutions and co-working spaces.

As part of these developments, it is important to take into account the high demands on the quality of living and open spaces in cities. The transformation process is hampered by a number of factors, including a lack of resources and actors' fatigue with change. Therefore, great importance is attached to dialogue with stakeholders and citizens in order to develop sustainable solutions.

The Urban space concept supports municipalities in the development of commercial and industrial areas in order to keep economic, ecological and social interests in balance. In an increasingly dynamic environment, it will be a matter of using the potential sensibly and making it future-proof.