Working group “Addressing vacancies”
members
Empty Goods Agents | LAG Socioculture e. V. | Thuringian State Chancellery | Thuringian Ministry for Digital Affairs and Infrastructure | Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Areas | Thuringian Association of Municipalities and Cities e. V. | City of Bad Liebenstein | City of Gotha | City of Gera | City of Pößneck | Thuringian Development Bank | Association of Thuringian Housing and Real Estate Industry e. V. | Erfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce | East Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce | Neighborhoods for All e. V.
What does the AG do?
Developing solutions and strategies to address vacancies in city centers and town centers is central to the group's work. This involves considering diverse expertise and perspectives, and understanding vacancy as an opportunity that must be boldly seized. No fear of change – but rather a commitment to innovation! These are the guiding principles of the operational work of all participants, both daily within their respective spheres of influence and jointly within the framework of the Thuringia-wide action alliance.
Goals
The working group aims to develop solutions for various types of vacant properties through constructive dialogue. This includes, for example, vacant retail spaces in pedestrian zones, empty inns in town centers, and other vacant residential and commercial buildings. Collaboration within municipalities, involving civil society actors, is encouraged and integrated into the working group's activities.
By the end of 2024, the working group aims to initiate and implement two pilot projects. A first step is the development of a collection of best-practice examples documenting different strategies for addressing vacancy. These examples will serve as inspiration for others to follow and provide guidance. The goal is to make existing experience available to other stakeholders, municipalities, and civil society organizations, thereby creating practical support for revitalizing vacant properties.
Katrin Hitziggrad
Empty Container Agents
Results of the working group
"Using vacancy as an opportunity – developing solutions together": This was the motto of the 3rd "Thinking Together & Acting Together" transfer event, hosted by the Thuringian Ministry for Infrastructure and Agriculture in Apolda in November 2022. The Working Group on Vacancy Management contributed its expertise and know-how to the conception and implementation of this experimental event. Local and state government officials, as well as civil society actors, collaboratively worked on case studies of urban development and the activation of vacant properties. The event demonstrated that creativity and civic engagement can create livable places when given the necessary space and opportunities for exchange.
