Starting this year, three long-awaited urban development projects will gradually put an end to the dreary impression of Offenbach's city center around the market square. The renovation of the market square planned by the city from the spring and the redesign of the City Center and redevelopment of the former Toys'R'Us site, which has been started by the private sector, will make way for the traffic and architectural sins of past decades in the heart of the city. Gray concrete facades, vacant office and retail spaces, damaged paving and the remains of the former pedestrian level above the market square are giving way to a new, friendlier face at the central gateway to the pedestrian zone and Wilhelmsplatz. Head of Building and Planning Paul-Gerhard Weiß is looking forward to more space for pedestrians and cyclists, priority for public transport and new attractive commercial areas. "All three construction projects are very important building blocks for upgrading, strengthening and repositioning the city center, as they are located directly on the edge of the project area for the city center future concept and will undoubtedly contribute to significantly improving the quality of the public space around Offenbach's central public transport hub."
Offenbach has come another step closer to this goal, as the city has now created planning law for the redevelopment of the Toys-R-Us site: "Another milestone for the city centre has been reached," emphasizes Weiß, Head of Planning. Last week, the city council gave the green light for the resolution on the development plan no. 650A "Residential and commercial building Berliner Straße" to be passed by the city council on February 11. This development plan covers the western area between Berliner Strasse, Schloßstrasse and Ziegelstrasse - i.e. the part of the former concrete colossus that has since been demolished. A new residential and commercial building with integrated S-Bahn access is planned for this site. The decision also includes the implementation agreement, which regulates the installation of a bicycle parking garage and a public toilet as well as the replanting of the existing trees.
The basis for the new plans presented last year by project developer WasE GmbH from Offenbach is a design by architects Tchoban Voss from Hamburg. The current design retains the arcades originally planned in the previous design, but these no longer extend all the way to Schloßstraße. The edge of the building is now set back 3.65 meters and opens up a visual axis from the market square towards Ziegelstraße. The façade design provides for different window formats and follows the idea of individual buildings.
The redesign of the site will be realized in three construction phases. As for the western area of the site, a development plan will also be drawn up for the central area, where a second, 60-metre-high residential and commercial building is planned. A new open pedestrian passage from Salzgässchen to Sandgasse with a small square and outdoor catering will also be created there. The design thus picks up on old pathways, creates an urban transition and opens up the axis from the market square towards the Main. To the east of the site, following the partial demolition of the former building last year, the remaining part of the multi-storey parking lot is now being thoroughly renovated and given a new, attractive façade. The parking garage is available to residents of the area and visitors to the city center.
