Support options for revitalizing city centers and town centers focused particularly on funding for municipalities and businesses, as well as image campaigns highlighting the diversity of city centers. "The event underscored once again that revitalizing our city centers is a major challenge that we can only overcome with a broad-based and well-connected approach," said Infrastructure Minister Susanna Karawanskij. "With Thuringia's urban development funding, we have an effective instrument for creating and preserving sustainable urban structures. In particular, the 'Lively Centers' program enhances and revitalizes city and town centers and secures their status as multifunctional locations," she added.
“Modern inner-city development must focus on the diversity of potential uses. I see many opportunities here to create new, interconnected, and attractive urban spaces from vacant properties through repurposing and conversion. Successful co-working spaces and pop-up stores, which we are also monitoring, for example with our business start-up pass, serve as examples. This allows entrepreneurs to rent space in a co-working space and receive a subsidy from us. Such trends and developments should be given greater attention. This can only be achieved together, which is why the action alliance continues to have my full support,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee.
Among other things, the vacancy trends in Thuringia are being analyzed as part of the accompanying research project on urban redevelopment. As of December 2020, the average vacancy rate in the participating municipalities was 7.9 percent. However, there were significant regional variations. Almost half of the participating municipalities recorded a vacancy rate exceeding ten percent.
The issue of vacant retail space is also currently being addressed as part of the "2022 Retail Survey for Thuringia." The survey aims to provide a reliable basis for spatial planning and regional development in the Free State of Thuringia. From September to December 2022, retail stock and vacant store locations were surveyed across the state. The results are currently being evaluated and analyzed. Concrete findings are expected by the end of March 2023.
