According to the contracts, a large part of the planned Martinshöfe residential area in the center of Weingarten must be completed in four years. But the official start of construction is still pending after a delay.
Weingarten’s city administration now doubts whether the investor, Berlin-based housing company Buwog, can even meet the contract deadlines. The proposed 500 apartments and 28 commercial units should be ready for occupancy by 2032. Buwog says he is committed to achieving this.
Building permits have been granted for a long time
“I would also prefer if we didn’t look into a gravel pit,” said Mayor Clemens Moll at the residents’ meeting at the end of June in the Culture and Conference Center in Weingarten. Moll informed the approximately 40 guests, among other things, about the current status of the residential area, which, at 3.7 hectares, is one of the largest construction projects in the city’s history. Moll emphasized that it’s not the city’s fault that no tall buildings have yet been built on the former Schuler site.
I would also prefer if we didn’t look into a gravel pit.
Clemens Moll
The building permit for the first of the four planned construction phases, which according to the plans is on the corner between Abt-Hyller-Straße and Bomsgasse, was granted a year and a half ago. Last year, the city allowed the investor to postpone the start of construction for the first phase — but “without the completion dates,” Moll said.
Initially, shell construction work was to begin in September 2023 on the first section. But Buwog’s parent company, the Bochum-headquartered private housing company Vonovia, previously halted all new construction projects for 2023. At the time, Buwog’s spokesman, Michael Divé, cited difficult market conditions such as price increases in the construction industry as the reason.
Martinshöfe affected by Vonovia construction stop
The stoppage of construction also affected the Weingarten area in Martinshöfe. So Buwog negotiated with the city to start construction again. Accordingly, work should begin on the first part by March 2025.
However, the city wants to stick to the contract completion deadlines. They are as follows: In June 2028, 60 percent of the first and second phases of construction should be completed.
The map shows the completion dates that the city has contractually agreed with the investor. The deadlines were announced at the residents’ meeting in Weingarten. (Photo: Visuals (Sourdough), OSM.org, HERE.com; Mapcreator.io Data source: City of Weingarten)
The second construction phase is located on Abt-Hyller- and Heinrich-Schatz-Straße and is the largest of the four sections in terms of area. However, according to the experts in the city administration, it could be difficult to reach the majority of the two sections in time, Moll said at the residents’ meeting. 80 percent of the third section should be completed in June 2030, and the entire area two years later.
We continue to do our best (…) to meet the contract deadlines.
Michael Divé
When asked when the official start of construction can be expected, spokesperson Buwog Divé said: “Before the visible construction work begins, planning work needs to be done, most of which is already underway itself in the background, for example, the energy the concept still needs to be completed. The Martinshöfe should be supplied 100 percent by geothermal energy.
A partner company is currently receiving bids for infrastructure planning and construction of the first phase of construction. Planning for the second phase of construction was also underway. “It is expected that a building application will be submitted within this year,” says Divé. “We continue to do our best (…) to meet the contractual deadlines.”
The city refers to contractual penalties
If Buwog fails to do this, the company will face contractual penalties, according to Mayor Moll. Buwog could cost up to four million euros. Weingarten resident Dietmar Seitz complained at the residents’ meeting that the penalty costs are only a fraction of the amount of Buwog’s investment. A good year ago this was 250 million euros. Meanwhile, according to the Buwog Divé spokesperson, the project has become more expensive.
Moll responded to the citizen’s criticism by saying that it is unlikely that anyone would be negligent when dealing with contractual penalties amounting to millions. A meeting between the city and the investor is to be held in July to discuss the next steps.