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Former Police HQ and the Matthäusareal

Topic:
Housing, Offices, Gastronomie, Einzelhandel
District: Local district:
1
Size of area:
4,2 ha
Project management:

Mr. Ingo Weiskopf
fone: +49 (0)69 212 34235

Frau Kirsten Bandi
fone: +49 (0)69 212 44338


Project description

Reason for planning
The development area stands out for its central location between the Frankfurt Main Railway Station and the Frankfurt trade fair complex. Given the fact that the former Police HQ is completely vacant and a decision has been taken to tear down the Matthäuskirche, the area offers great potential for internal development and a reorganization of the urban fabric.

The Police HQ has stood vacant for many years, and the planning law under Land Use Plan no. 556 - Messeviertel/Hemmerichsweg has existed just as long, both of which have been obstacles to any advances being made with urban planning. The original objectives associated with this area were not achieved on the central sections of real estate that formed the former Police HQ. The fact that the area is not being used does not do justice to this especially favorable location on Platz der Republik.

Moreover, the legally binding Land Use Plan no. 556 does not reflect the conceptual considerations of the High-Rise Development Plan in its updated 2018 version and therefore does not foresee allowing for a high-rise site to be created on the plots around the Matthäuskirche. This high-rise concept will be revisited in the course of amending the land use plan and if required elaborated further.

At the same time, the overall urban planning conditions of the legally binding land use plan have changed since it came into force in 2001. Frankfurt has a great need for additional apartments as we can expect the clear population growth to continue. At the same time, the development area continues to be appealing as a downtown office, service and hotel location.

In addition, the necessary social infrastructure facilities need to be created for the new quarter that will arise. Likewise, a site enabling expansion of the Flakschule in the northwest section of the area needs to be taken into account in the planning.

The order of the day must therefore be to adequately factor in these overall conditions and array of requirements by devising and implementing a coherent overall concept for the entire area covered by the planning.

Development area

The development area is located in the east section of the Gallus district to the west of Friedrich Ebert Anlage and thus borders on the districts of Westend South and Bahnhofsviertel. It is delimited by the Friedrich Ebert Anlage, Mainzer Landstrasse, Ludwigstrasse and Hohenstaufenstrasse. It is about 4.2 hectares in size.

Planning objectives
The intention behind amending the land use plan is to create the basic framework in which to develop a mixed-usage urban quarter with a high proportion of housing in the development area in question. At the same time, the wish remains to create an attractive office, service and hotel hub.

In this way, the goal is to create the conditions so that the development area can make a larger contribution to creating housing than has hitherto been possible under planning law at present. For the housing construction in the district that will be permitted under the amended law, in line with the resolution on building land, the requirement is that a total of 30% shall be subsidized housing.

At the same time, the option must be kept open to create attractive and modern office spaces. To this end, on the one hand the heritage-listed former Police HQ will be modernized with a view to it fulfilling new uses, and, on the other, in the new builds there will also be a high proportion of office and commercial spaces.

Particular attention is thus being paid in the planning to striking a good balance of mixed uses. These will primarily be housing and commercial usages. In addition, uses that bring more vibrancy on the ground floors will potentially be allowed. The ground floor space will be categorized as part of public space and securing areas for the social and cultural infrastructure will likewise boost the diversity of uses in the quarter.

Project progress

Currently in the area "Matthäus-Areal":

  • Removal of the Matthäusareal from the scope of legal zoning plan no. 556 Ä ("Police Headquarters")
  • Conducting a competition to develop a suitable urban planning-architectural concept for the new development of the Matthäusareal area.

Currently in the area of "Police Headquarters":

Next planning steps: Preparation of the implementation of the public display and timely involvement of the authorities / for the legal zoning plan No. 556Ä ("Police Headquarters")

16 March, 2023: Conclusion of an urban development agreement for the area of the former police headquarters between the City of Frankfurt and the property owners

2 February, 2023: Qualification of the Resolution to secure planning approval on the basis of the planning concept by the city council meeting

2 to 13 May 2022:

  • Early participation of the public in accordance with Section 3 (1) BauGB with the opportunity to provide information and make suggestions.
  • Main topics of feedback came from the areas:
  • Nature and environment, artists and cultural workers, infrastructure and supply as well as urban planning and procedural issues.

26 April, 2022: Information event on the development plan procedure as part of the Local Advisory Council 1 meeting Issues.

2020:
Property owner / real estate developer conducts a two-phase urban planning/architectural competition with the participation of the city
Revision and further development of the urban design by the first prize-winner, the architectural firm Meixner Schlüter Wendt, in accordance with the jury's recommendations.
Sale of the land around St. Matthew's Church, retention of a part of the land of 650 m² by the Evangelical Regional Association for the construction of a new church building

2018:
Sale of the land around the former police headquarters from the state of Hesse to a private real estate developer.
Approval of the Evangelical Regional Association for the sale of the land around St. Matthew's Church
20 February, 2018
Resolution to secure planning approval on the site layout in the Official Gazette No. 8

1 February, 2018: Resolution to secure planning approval of the legal zoning plan No. 556 - Messeviertel / Hemmerichsweg - 1st amendment - by the City Council (Section 2240).