One-stop redevelopment

Schwäbisch-Gmünd is a city in motion. After it was selected as the site to host the 2014 Landesgartenschau [regional garden festival], it is now the focus of the next big project which entails developing various parts of its downtown area. A developer contest was launched for the redevelopment of two separate areas of the historic north-western city center. The tender was issued on a European level, and HBB together with the Stuttgart-based project developer SEPA submitted a convincing concept.

During the first project phase which entails the redevelopment of Ledergasse, a modern shopping mall will be built on the plot of a former Horten department store, Engel brewery, and other adjacent areas. The shopping mall with about 7,500 m² in retail space will include a premium full-line retailer as anchor tenant, as well as other attractive specialist retailers. This will not only revive Ledergasse and the close-by pedestrian zone, but also add to their appeal. Plenty of parking will be conveniently available in the bright and customer-friendly nearby parking garage with about 170 parking spaces. This part of the project is expected to be completed and opened for business in late 2012.

Highlight on the occasion of Landesgartenschau

The second area in need of redevelopment that was put out to tender is the Gamundia plot located between train station and city garden. This site will become home to a modern hotel with about 100 rooms – right in time for the 2014 Landesgartenschau. The former postal building called Einhornbau will also be modernized and expanded by adding a functional office building. Future tenants will include Hochschule für Gestaltung – a design academy – and other public and private institutions and service providers. The design of the future buildings and squares will emphasize the generosity of the new city park. Construction is expected to begin in 2012 to ensure completion before the commencement of the Landesgartenschau.