New building in Prenzlau: barrier-free apartments in the heart of the city!

New building in Prenzlau: barrier-free apartments in the heart of the city!

Big changes are coming in the heart of Prenzlau. The demolition of the former Brandt drugstore on Friedrichstrasse, which is scheduled to take place in the spring, is the first step towards a new residential concept. Christoph Göths, head of construction management at Wohnbau GmbH Prenzlau, explains that the dismantling of the old drugstore is necessary for safety reasons because the steel beams are badly rusted. Mayor Hendrik Sommer shows understanding for the emotional ties that many older Prenzlau residents have to the building.

The plans for the new building not only provide for a visual upgrade of the northern entrance area on Friedrichstrasse, but also provide urgently needed living space. The building, designed by the Swedish engineering firm “Prüfer & Wilke”, will comprise four floors and offer space for six apartments as well as practice rooms on the ground floor. Three two-room apartments with 56 m² each and three three-room apartments with 73 m² are planned. All units will be designed barrier-free and equipped with modern bathrooms, storage rooms and loggias. In addition, a connection to the district heating network and a parking space are planned for each apartment.

Total package with added value

Particular attention is paid to integration into the surroundings. The planner Martin Wilke attaches great importance to creating a modern building with historical references. This also includes a public green space with an air stone, benches and a sidewalk to the B198. The design is currently being worked out in detail, with a construction start date that is still uncertain due to increased construction costs and legal requirements.

But this is just one of several projects that Wohnbau GmbH currently has in the pipeline. Managing director René Stüpmann points out the need to promote the development of cheap construction money in order to be able to implement the projects. Current rental prices for newly built apartments could be between 20 and 25 euros per square meter, which is perceived as problematic in the current tense situation in the region. In comparison, the average cold rent price in Wohnbau GmbH's portfolio is a total of six euros per square meter. It is obvious that there is a discrepancy here that needs to be taken into account.

Community support

Wohnbau GmbH is the largest landlord in Prenzlau and has a portfolio of around 3,700 apartments that are rented out at fair prices. There is a personal contact person available for each tenant, available around the clock via the Friedrich online service, both via the web and via the app. This municipal housing association plays a crucial role in the provision of affordable housing and urban development. In Germany there are around 2.3 million apartments owned by municipalities, which accounts for around 10% of the total rental housing stock.

Given the challenges in the housing market – including the lack of affordable housing and meeting energy requirements in accordance with climate targets – the new building is urgently needed. Providing suitable housing for various population groups remains an essential task for cities and municipalities. An active housing market policy, which also includes the mobilization of building land and urban planning concepts, is the key to solving these problems.

The developments in Prenzlau could therefore serve as a model for other communities and show how municipal housing companies can contribute to improving the housing situation. The challenge remains to create an affordable living environment even as costs rise. Stay tuned, prenetz! For further details about the ongoing projects, we recommend taking a look at the website Wohnbau GmbH Prenzlau or further reports Federal Building Gazette in order to always keep an eye on developments in the area of ​​municipal housing construction.