Social Cohesion Sossenheim
Ms. Bettina Boknecht
fone: +49 (0)69 212 37864
Ms. Daniela Evans
fone: +49 (0)69 212 44788
Project description
Planning reason
In late 2017, Sossenheim was included in the “Social City” program run by the Federal and Hessen state governments and transitioned as part of the realignment of support for urban renewal in 2020 into the Federal and Hessen state government “Social Cohesion” support program. Having grown historically from a village along a road, Sossenheim lacks a classic center with a corresponding retail infrastructure. In the 1960s and 1970s, as part of the subsidized housing construction program, four large satellite-like residential estates were built on the outskirts of the original settlement area, and to this day they to a large extent define the structural and social fabric of the district.
For decades now, these mono-functional communities in particular have been characterized by social segregation, which has led to a concentration of low-income households. Unemployment, poverty in old age, a high proportion of single-parent families as well as low levels of both employment among women and participation in education among children are part and parcel of everyday life. On top of which local inhabitants are strongly international in composition, which poses particular challenges in terms of linguistic, economic, and social integration.
Alongside the problems in terms of social structure Sossenheim also has to contend with the absence of an adequate retail and transport infrastructure for a district with 16,000 inhabitants. Nor does the ambiance of public spaces live up to its full potential, such that there are few points where public life can blossom.
The “Social Cohesion” program is intended to promote development of the district with a view to improving the quality of life there in the long term.
Planning area
For the moment the planning area embraces 159 hectares and around 10,000 inhabitants. It includes most of the Sossenheim settlement with the historical core and the four residential estates. There are also significant areas of greenery and open space in the planning area.
Planning objectives
The aim of the support program is to step up the “soft measures” of district management and, as an investment, to advance the quality of life in the long-term through improvements to the living environment and amenities.
One important topic will be to link the individual parts of the settlement, as well as the areas of greenery and open spaces so as to provide better access to and make better use of these and the existing public infrastructure. At the same time the plan is to enhance the ambiance of roads, plazas, and semi-public natural environments. As a result, the public domain will be accorded greater significance and attract more attention in the district and will encourage the inhabitants of Sossenheim to spend more time in it.
Furthermore, the social, cultural, economic, linguistic, and health-related integration in particular of children, youths, women, the unemployed, migrants, and the elderly are important objectives. This also means that overall the “Social City” measures are intended to lead to improved co-existence and communal life among all the district’s inhabitants.
However, it is not just about improvements in the district itself, but also about a positive change to the district’s image and how the city as a whole perceives it in terms of a local recreation area and a district with a high quality of life. The “Social City” support program is intended to bring to an end the long-term neglect on the part of planners of Sossenheim and its inhabitants.
Project Progress
- Successive implementation of the individual projects from the ISEK
- Advisory board as an opportunity for involvement and permanent representation of the interests of Sossenheim residents and local institutions
- Information, activation and advice on the funding program for residents by the district management urban consultancy Dr. Sven Fries
- District office as a central point of contact and local meeting point
Currently ongoing projects:
- Since February 2024: Development of an overall urban design concept for the center of Sossenheim
- Since May 2024: The Sossenheim Municipal District Library is being modernized to reduce energy consumption
- Since October 2023: Planning for the redesign of the Cäcilia-Lauth playground with citizen participation
- Since September 2023: Youth center - open space design and expansion of accessibility with youth participation
- Since July 2023: Energy consulting by the refurbishment management for the KfW program 432 "Energy-efficient urban refurbishment"
- Since April 2023: Urban gardening working group - "Generation gardens"
- Since August 2022: Creation of an integrated traffic concept for district-related local mobility with citizen participation
- Since May 2022: "Quartier machen" vacancy management, interim use and reactivation of vacant commercial space
- Since October 2021: AG networking platform for Sossenheim
- Since July 2020: Planning for the Dunantring football pitch upgrade with citizen participation (start of construction phase 1:November 2023 (sewer construction work), phase 2: spring 2024 (construction of the football pitch and Callistenics equipment)
Completed projects:
- July 2020 – July 2024: Football pitch enhanced with the participation of local citizens to include Calisthenics Equipment at Dunantring
- July 2020 - November 2023: Planning and construction measures for the redesign of the Schaumburger Straße playground with public participation
- February 2022 - July 2023: KfW program 432 "Energy-efficient urban refurbishment": Creation of two integrated neighbourhood concepts for Sossenheim East and West
- September 2022: Resolution of the ISEK by the city council Agreement on development goals for the future based on an analysis of the district's strengths and weaknesses Achieving the development goals with the help of a catalog of measures Intensive involvement of Sossenheim residents in the context of public events
- October 2021 - March 2022: Creation of a usage distribution concept for the Carl-Sonnenschein-Siedlung with citizen participation
- May 2019 - March 2022: Creation of the ISEK as a guideline for the implementation of the funding program with citizen participation
- April 2020: Opening of the district office and start of regular consultation hours
- May 2019: Commissioning of the district management urban consultancy Dr. Sven Fries
- January 2019 - August 2021: Planning and construction measures for the redesign of the Carl-Sonnenschein-Siedlung playground with citizen participation
PDF files relating to the project
More information
Integrated Urban Development Concept
The bidding syndicate consisting of Dr. Sven Fries from Speyer and BIERBAUM.AICHELE.landschaftsarchitekten from Frankfurt/Main has prepared the Integrated Urban Development Concept (IUDC) for the Social Cohesion Sossenheim development zone. THE IUDC will form the basis of the subsequent implementation of measures in the development area. THE IUDC is being prepared with the active participation of residents of Sossenheim as well as local players and initiatives.
On the basis of a fact check and an analysis of strengths and weaknesses, the IUDC will formulate objectives-related statements with regard to relevant issues and problems in Sossenheim. Furthermore, with a view to achieving those objectives, it will propose individual projects, which will be implemented within development area boundaries that still have to be defined. All the individual projects form part of the overall portfolio of measures, in which for each proposed project there is an initial estimation of the costs and a schedule. Compilation of the IUDC will be coordinated with the funding body as well as Sossenheim residents and local players. The IUDC will then be formally adopted by the city councilors, from when it will serve as the guideline for action during the implementation stage.
For the ten-year duration of the Social Cohesion Sossenheim subsidy scheme, on the basis of the Integrated Urban Development Concept applications will be submitted annually to the funding agency for financial resources to enable implementation of the individual projects listed in the set of measures. Realization of these projects will be planned and coordinated with Sossenheim players on an ongoing basis. District participation and city control structures that were put in place during the compilation of the IUDC will apply for the entire duration of the scheme.
In the following video, Executive Council Member for Planning Mike Josef explains the objectives of urban planning funding drive for West Frankfurt and the importance of involving local inhabitants in the urban renewal process. Subsequently, project managers Bettina Boknecht and Daniela Evans offer an insight into the scope and implementation process for the Integrated Urban Development Concept (IUDC) projects. Then the district management presents the “Social Cohesion Sossenheim” project in the form of a photo gallery.
Council
The District Consultative Council is a committee that enables residents and representatives of institutions to participate in the “Social Cohesion” Sossenheim scheme.
The members of the Consultative Council represent the wishes and interests of Sossenheim inhabitants throughout the course of the project and offer advice with regard to project proposals and necessary changes in the district. The Consultative Council also functions as an advisory body for members of the District Council and the City Council. It convenes regularly and its sessions are public in order to include the suggestions and wishes of Sossenheim residents in the Social Cohesion project.
The Consultative Council is also involved in drawing up the INetgrated Urban Development Concept (IUDC) and makes recommendations in this regard. During the iIUDC implementation phase the Consultative Council plays a key role in setting priorities for measures and acts as a multiplier campaigning among the local inhabitants for acceptance of and participation in the measures implemented.
The Sossenheim Consultative Council officially began its work on November 6, 2019. At its first meeting the Consultative Council elected Esra Kahraman as its first chairperson and Michael Weber as the deputy chairperson. The Chairpersons chair the meetings and, while management and minutes are the responsibility of the district management team. The Consultative Council consists of 14 inhabitants from all parts of Sossenheim and 13 representatives of local institutions. The 27 members represent the area’s interests in the framework of devising and realizing the support program as outlined above. Moreover, they make decisions with regard to neighborhood projects that can be financed with city funding through a contingent fund.
District management
Since May 2019 the company Stadtberatung Dr. Sven Fries has been tasked with the district management for SOCIAL CITY Sossenheim. For the entire duration of the scheme (approx. ten years), the district management team will support the City Planning Department with implementation of the program and the participation of Sossenheim residents.
The district management team consisting of Ms Gwendolin Schwab, Mr Raoul Fessler, and Ms Anna Pohling (proxy) is the central point of contact for local residents as well as Sossenheim players and initiatives. As such it is an important link between the district of Sossenheim and the City of Frankfurt/Main, guaranteeing that the concerns of local residents are heard and ensuring the constant exchange of information between all those involved in the urban renewal process. In this way, local social issues are taken into account by politicians and the municipal authorities both in the preparation of the Integrated Urban Development Concept (IUDC) and in the implementation stage.
Contact and opening hours of the district management:
District management:
Gwendolin Schwab, Stadtberatung Dr. Sven Fries
Raoul Fessler, Stadtberatung Dr. Sven Fries
Anna Pohling (proxy), Stadtberatung Dr. Sven Fries
Tel.: +49-69-21002061,
E-Mail:quartiersmanagement.sossenheim@stadtberatung.info
Neighborhood office:
Schaumburger Strasse 2 (corner of Siegener Strasse), 65936 Frankfurt am Main
| Opening hours: | Mondays | 10 a.m. - 12 noon |
| Tuesdays | 2 - 4 p.m. | |
| Wednesdays | 3 - 5 p.m. | |
| Thursdays | 5 - 7 p.m. | |
| Fridays | by appointment |
District management newsletter
Once a month, in its newsletter the district management updates everyone on the latest projects in the context of “Social Cohesion” Sossenheim.
Should you be interested in subscribing to the newsletter, simply send an email to the district management: quartiersmanagement.sossenheim@stadtberatung.info
She will then initiate the double-opt-in process registering you for the newsletter.
The district management office is responsible for the content of the newsletter.
Moreover, the district management is regularly out and about in the neighborhood using a cargo bicycle – chatting in the various parts of Sossenheim with the locals about the district and everyday life in Sossenheim.
Contingent fund
With a view to strengthening its commitment to the common good, the City of Frankfurt is making available to those districts undergoing urban renewal a budget (contingent fund) for the execution of minor local projects and measures. In an unbureaucratic way the fund will enable independent civic activity in the non-investment field.
Do you have an idea that could be used to play an active role in your neighborhood? The City of Frankfurt will be pleased to reimburse you for your efforts.
Initial ideas for projects can be discussed informally with the neighborhood management team. The district manager Zlatica Niznanska also offers assistance with submitting an application and the implementation process.