Brühl's development continues to take shape: Redevelopment work by committed investors - cultural summer from July

The first topic of yesterday's Citizens' Platform was the developments and progress since the third Citizens' Platform at the end of November, and Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig confirmed that thanks to the commitment of the numerous partners, Brühl is on a very good path: "In particular, the interest of investors in the purchase and development of buildings on Brühl has increased. The refurbishment activities of both the municipal GGG and private owners are progressing." The signs are therefore very good that a good part of Brühl will be refurbished in the next few years. The Unger Group is the first major investor to invest in Brühl - at least nine buildings and an open space will be developed in Karree 5. Further promising sales negotiations are currently underway in individual blocks, according to the Grundstücks- und Gebäudewirtschafts-Gesellschaft, which is currently finalising its refurbishment work in block 1 on Georgstraße and would then like to continue in block 2 opposite. Individual private owners in other squares are currently tackling refurbishments with the support of SOP funding. Consultations are currently underway with a total of 27 owners regarding subsidies, and refurbishment is imminent for eight properties.

The background to the positive development is not least the decision by the Free State to establish the Chemnitz University of Technology's central library in the Alte Aktienspinnerei. The architectural competition has been finalised. The winning design has been finalised - now the concrete planning by the Free State of Saxony together with Chemnitz University of Technology is underway.

Rector Prof. Arnold van Zyl emphasised the great opportunity that the Brühl offers both the city and Chemnitz University of Technology. With the development of the Brühl, Chemnitz has an excellent opportunity to establish a neighbourhood that offers young creatives in particular opportunities for appropriation in the direct vicinity of the university.

Andreas Hennig, CEO of eins energie in sachsen, reported that the energy neighbourhood concept for a sustainable Brühl has been successfully developed further - initial measures to set up the low-temperature district heating network coupled with a solar thermal system will already start this year. To this end, free energy passports for buildings have been created for owners.

Brühl office - central contact point brings partners together: Future design of the inner courtyards under discussion

Brühl management at the Brühlbüro - the central point of contact on the Brühl since September 2012 - together with the KiQ (Kooperation im Quartier) project, has brought together a wide range of partners in recent months - owners, tradespeople, project organisers and interested parties. For example, various round tables have been held to discuss the possible development of the inner courtyards. A landscape architecture firm (sLandArt), commissioned by the city as part of the SOP programme, has now been commissioned to design the courtyards for Karree 1 (Georgstraße, Brühl, Untere Aktienstraße, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße) and Karree 3 (Untere Aktienstraße, Brühl, Hermannstraße, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße). Consensus was reached on important issues relating to the design of the inner courtyards - for example, coordinated access and parking facilities, pooled waste collection and disposal, shared green spaces and squares. This resulted in designs for a redesign that would bring more greenery and quality of life as well as a common design to the courtyards. Depending on the owners' ability to implement the individual plans with the support of funding from the SOP - Active Urban and District Centres programme, a redesign of the first squares could begin as early as this year, thus further filling the urban framework planning for the Brühl with life.

Brühl committee develops ideas for revitalising the Brühl Boulevard
Cultural summer from July to September

Meanwhile, the Brühl committee, which meets regularly in the Brühl office, developed approaches and ideas for revitalising the boulevard. The committee was established in November 2012 and has already met four times, bringing together tradespeople, project organisers, owners and interested parties on the Brühl, together with GGG, the KiQ project and the city's Brühl management. The aim of the committee, which may develop into a neighbourhood council in the long term, is to exchange ideas on the design of Brühl, to develop ideas and projects, activities and events for Brühl and to act as a driving force and co-designer. The Brühl Fund from the SOP programme provides the committee with 10,000 euros in funding each year. Last year, for example, a Christmas get-together was organised as an information and exchange event. It was also possible to organise a regular citizens' consultation hour for the community police officer in the Brühl office. Plans include the renewal of the trade signs and the gate at the entrance to the Brühl and the installation of Kulturlitt columns.

Finally, the cultural summer on the Brühl will take place from mid-July to the beginning of September. In addition to the design of defaced surfaces on buildings and pedestals by street artists, artist workshops and the exhibition of artworks in the shop windows on the boulevard, music events, discussion forums and a BMX event will also take place over the course of the summer.

Contact: City of Chemnitz, Brühl Office - Brühl Manager Dr Urs Luczak
Untere Aktienstraße 12 (corner of Brühl Boulevard)
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 10 am - 4 pm, Fri: 10 am - 2 pm
Phone: 0371- 488 1585, e-mail: bruehl@stadt-chemnitz.de