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Koblenz: Vacancies in the forum - plans for creative revival!
Koblenz is struggling with vacancies in the forum. Initiative starts for cultural use and strengthening of the community. Opening on April 4, 2024.
Koblenz: Vacancies in the forum - plans for creative revival!
The Forum at Zentralplatz in Koblenz has been struggling with a serious problem for years: vacancies. Currently, 17 areas in the Forum are unused, especially in the basement, where the situation is particularly visible. These vacancies are often not immediately recognizable through advertising films on shop windows, which further obscures the issue. A key factor in this decline is the withdrawal of the insolvent textile chain Sinn, which has further exacerbated the situation. An impressive 2,800 square meters in the Forum have been empty for more than a year, which worries many passers-by and residents.
The Rhein-Zeitung reports on the challenges facing the forum and illuminates the future of the property in the context of the changing shopping landscape.
Revitalization initiatives
In the midst of these difficulties, a ray of hope appears. In 2022, the Department of Education and Culture launched the initiative to strengthen the cultural and creative industries in Koblenz. The KREATOP e.V. association was founded at the end of 2022 and will now move into a vacant space in the Middle Rhine Forum. From April 4th to June 30th, 2024, a usage concept will be tested that involves a large number of actors. The aim is to make partial areas available to cultural and art associations, initiatives, students and creative people.
The KREATOP plans to make the forum a lively place for creative development and social gatherings, in which not only commercial but also cultural offerings can be accommodated. This initiative could become a new focal point in the city that strengthens the sense of community and creates space for inspiring exchange Kulturhaus Koblenz.
The change in consumer behavior
However, the problems with which the Koblenz Forum is struggling are not unique. Many cities around the world are facing similar challenges, often driven by the rise of online shopping and changing consumer habits. According to actori, department stores are often empty for a long time, which happens in monofunctional city centers that offer little space for cultural uses. A revitalization of vacant properties appears necessary in order to revitalize inner cities and strengthen social cohesion.
However, transforming vacancies into cultural operating concepts requires not only courage, but also planning skills. Approval procedures often represent a major hurdle for such conversion projects. Nevertheless, there are successful example projects, such as the CORE in Oldenburg or JUPITER in Hamburg, which show that a lot can be achieved with a clever mix of uses of retail, gastronomy and cultural offerings.
In Koblenz, the KREATOP project could be the key to revitalizing the forum. The city community is invited to participate in order to work together in a place that not only offers space for consumption, but also for culture. A good hand and shared ideas could perhaps be the key to success here.