Eichplatz development: interpretation and information event

On 22.11.2023, the Jena City Council approved the draft resolution on the approval and presentation of the draft project-related development plan for construction site A of the Eichplatz area. This marks the next milestone in the major construction project. The draft plan will now be published on jena.de from 08.12.2023 to 18.01.2024 with all relevant expert opinions, drawings, the environmental report and action sheets. There will also be a public display at the Department of Urban Development and Environment, Am Anger 26, 07743 Jena. A public event is planned for 09.01.2024 in the historic town hall, where questions can be asked and discussions can take place.

Further development of the project since the start of planning

The construction project awarded to STRABAG Real Estate Berlin, with its three defining high points, has developed further within the limits of the specified framework plan. A 20-storey residential tower, a 14-storey office building and a further ten-storey residential building are being built on a total gross floor area of 30,000 m². All buildings will of course have retail and commercial space on the first floor, bringing the quarter to life.

The further development of the project has also made repeated planning and inspections necessary in the ongoing process. For example, a second underground parking level with a total of 175 parking spaces was planned - not least due to the now larger number of 148 apartments in the quarter. And the northern office tower has also deviated from the original designs in favor of better lighting for the neighboring buildings through recesses.

Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche says: "Eichplatz is a matter close to our hearts in two senses: located in the heart of the city, this major project moves our citizens like no other. This makes trust and staying power all the more important. I am very grateful to our partners - Strabag and Eichplatz-Werkstatt - for both. Together, we are now daring to take on more structural height. This is the only way to reconcile both: a strong revitalization of the city centre, with new apartments and offices, attractive stores, cafés and restaurants. And in between, open and tangible spaces that invite people to linger."

Mayor Christian Gerlitz says: "Eichplatz is a prime example of successful citizen participation. Through the workshop committee, citizens can actively decide what the future development should look like. And there will soon be another opportunity to get involved: from the beginning of December, you will be able to view the planning documents both digitally and at the Department of Urban Development and let us know your opinion in a statement. It also speaks for the dynamism of Jena as a location that the challenging development of Eichplatz is continuing despite the difficult market environment."

Marc Schreiber, Head of STRABAG Real Estate Berlin: "We are pleased about the close and trusting cooperation with all those involved and those responsible in the city of Jena on this comprehensive inner-city development. This cooperation since the start in 2019 shows that we are and will continue to be a reliable partner who takes the shared vision for Eichplatz and its importance for the city seriously."

Milestones to date for the Eichplatz site construction area A

The developer STRABAG Real Estate GmbH emerged as the winner of the two-stage investor selection process for the development of construction site A (consisting of plots A, B and C-West) in the Eichplatz area.
This was preceded by a very intensive and ongoing participation process for the redevelopment of this area, which lasted several years from 2015 and was unique in Thuringia.

The entire process has been extensively documented in public:
- on the EichplatzAreal website(link is external)
- in the project list of the city of Jena(link is external)
- in issue 10 "Stadtmitte für Jena" of the "Schriften zur Stadtentwicklung" series
- in the new showcase - green space on the corner of Johannisstrasse and Weigelstrasse

In autumn 2020, report 20/0567-BE "EichplatzAreal - past and future development" provided the political bodies and the public with comprehensive information on the participation process launched in 2015 and the subsequent investor selection process from 2018 onwards.

In November 2020, the purchase agreement between the City of Jena and STRABAG Real Estate GmbH for plots A, B and C-West was notarized.

In February 2021, the city council decided to initiate a procedure for the preparation of a project-related development plan "EichplatzAreal - Baufeld A", after STRABAG Real Estate GmbH had previously submitted an application for initiation as agreed.