At the most important real estate trade fair in Germany, Expo Real in Munich, Offenbach once again presented itself this year as a successful business location and as a city that is open to innovative and bold ideas. At the same time, however, it also consistently and sustainably pursues concepts and strategies, for example for the city center or the further development of the Kaiserlei district. Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke was a sought-after discussion partner on both topics, as were Mayor Sabine Groß, City Treasurer Martin Wilhelm and City Councillor Paul-Gerhard Weiß. They were supported in Munich by the heads of the Economic Development Department of the Office for Planning and Building and the Building Inspectorate. OPG was also part of the team. They all sought contact with project developers, architects, investors and estate agents in order to exchange ideas and convince their counterparts of Offenbach's opportunities and potential.
In a discussion with Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz on the topic of "Sustainable city centers - new ideas for urban centers", Lord Mayor Schwenke highlighted Offenbach's pioneering role in the transformation of the city center. Offenbach is now considered a nationwide example of the reinvention of a city center. Schwenke referred to the city center future concept, with which the city is pursuing the goal of developing a lively and attractive city center. And with regard to the former Kaufhof property, he said that Offenbach had been open to becoming active itself from day one. However, Schwenke explained on the podium that the city was only able to acquire the central property, which is important for the city center, after the owners' expectations had developed into an "absolutely reasonable price for Offenbach". However, the aim and strategy could not be that "the city now buys all the buildings", Schwenke made clear. In the case of Kaufhof, Offenbach's clear goal is to make the city library "four times as big as it is today". Because, as we know from our own experience and that of other major cities such as Cologne or Helsinki, young people today visit libraries to learn. "In other words, they create what we are looking for in the city center: a coming and going, a hustle and bustle." That is the Offenbach concept, says Schwenke.
Visitors showed great interest in the presentation of the new developments in the Kaiserlei district, harbor and innovation campus. Last year, the focus was on the Rockywood on Hafenallee, which already boasted numerous new settlements and company headquarters before completion: Advanced Technologies, Trademarketing Services, Topeople, the Circle Hub with now 25 associated companies, and most recently Impag GmbH. Just this weekend, it was announced that the German Weather Service will be renting two floors in the LEIQ office complex on Nordring, at the interface between the Kaiserlei district and the port. The German Weather Service intends to use the floors as training and conference rooms from summer 2025. Its headquarters with around 2,300 employees will remain on Frankfurter Strasse. This will fill the floors of this CO2-neutral building. The salty snack manufacturer Lorenz Snack-World had already announced in July that it was moving its administration from Neu-Isenburg to LEIQ. The Danish heating and cooling technology specialist Danfoss moved into its new German headquarters there a year ago.
The commitments of several project developers in the Kaiserlei district and the still far from completed development of Offenbach harbor also attracted attention to Offenbach.
Project developer Ernst-Otto Walker, who wants to build the NAMU, a 120-metre high-rise directly next to the A661, just a few steps away from the LEIQ, said that he was convinced of this location and wanted to "give it a great future" with his project. Walker referred to the excellent transport links to the Kaiserlei and the planned Park am Nordkap immediately adjacent to it, an inner-city green space that will contribute to a high amenity value. Apparently, not everyone in the Rhine-Main region is yet aware of the potential and qualities of the location. "But we are working to ensure that everyone knows," continued Walker. The qualities also include the fact that there is a Lord Mayor "who I know is at my side", but also a "really great building authority" and a "strong business development agency", said Walker. "I think that the last doubter must be clear by now," Walker continued, saying that Offenbach's qualities are "at least on a par with its big neighbor to the west".
"Of course, it's a great day when you hear such statements," admitted Lord Mayor Schwenke. And things had "indeed gone well" in Offenbach recently. However, this is not just "luck of the brave". Rather, "we are trying to work for it", said Schwenke. This includes having a clear strategy in mind. Offenbach has this with the Masterplan 2030 and the business location concept. This is not just paper, "we will do it". Being an attractive location also means acting reliably. "We are also relying heavily on our administration to not only work reliably, but also quickly," Schwenke continued. In order to be successful, it is also necessary to hold "an incredible number of discussions, such as at Expo Real". Because you have to hear from the companies, from the developers, what they need. He also asks them "where Offenbach still needs to improve". It is also the task of a city's good location policy to "bring people together who actually turn projects into reality in the end."
It is therefore no coincidence that Thilo Moser, Managing Director of Adolf Lupp GmbH & Co KG from Nidda, one of the largest and oldest construction service providers in Germany, not only built the LEIQ and even invested in it, but now also wants to build the NAMU for Walker.
The two have brought energy expert Sven Diehl on board, who has developed a completely new concept for the NAMU. The building is to be "more environmentally conscious than the high-rise buildings we have seen so far," said Diehl at Expo Real. In concrete terms, this means that the NAMU, with its approximately 60,000 square meters, will only use renewable energies in operation, such as electricity from photovoltaic systems on the roof and in the façade as well as highly efficient small wind turbines on the roof. Some people smile at the idea, Diehl admitted. But the wind speed on the roof of a high-rise building can make a big difference.
In Munich, Diehl's main advice was to "simply break new ground" and question what has been established for years. "You have to think about innovations - and then just do it." An attitude that all four participants in the discussion at the joint stand of the FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region welcomed and, above all, put into practice in their respective commitments.
