Start-up center on Inselplatz will not be implemented

The city of Jena will continue with the planning for the parking garage on Inselplatz in combination with office space. However, after extensive reviews and discussions, it has become clear that the originally planned start-up center cannot be realized at this location. The city administration will inform the city council about this development at its meeting tomorrow, 26.02.2025.

As part of a comprehensive review process, various aspects of the site's development were taken into account. These included the need for a further start-up center, structural options for a multi-storey parking lot and office space, technical conditions as well as the possible financial framework and funding opportunities.

Examination of a start-up center at Inselplatz

Since September 2022, the city administration has held several discussions with TIP Jena GmbH to examine various options for implementing the start-up center on the municipal site on Inselplatz. An initial site investigation was carried out, but this led to the conclusion that a new building of this size was not feasible due to a lack of financial and organizational capacity and a change in the assessment of space requirements. Instead, TIP Jena GmbH opted to rent smaller spaces in the Inselplatz area.

A new building for the start-up center would have had a usable area of around 2,700 m² and was therefore significantly larger than the desired space requirement. In addition, financing through subsidies would have made it necessary to split the project into two separate plots and buildings, which would have posed additional construction, legal and financial challenges. Due to these challenges, the start-up center is no longer being pursued.

"The decision not to pursue the start-up center on Inselplatz was not an easy one. Nevertheless, it is important that we deal pragmatically with the existing challenges and focus on the development of a future-proof parking garage with office space. After all, this is an important step towards meeting the need for infrastructure in this area and at the same time opening up new opportunities for companies," says Lord Mayor Thomas Nitzsche.

"The decision not to pursue the start-up center at Inselplatz does not mean the end of support for innovative start-ups in Jena - on the contrary. We will continue to support TIP Jena GmbH with our full commitment in order to promote the start-up scene in Jena in the best possible way," emphasizes Dirk Lange, Head of Urban Development and Environment.

Background

In its draft resolution 22/1534 BV "Amendment to the planning of the parking facilities at Inselplatz / Eichplatz(link is external)" dated 13.07.2022, the Jena City Council instructed the Lord Mayor to examine the extent to which a further start-up center for start-ups in combination with a smaller parking garage is possible on the municipal site at Inselplatz.