Study shows how centers are becoming more attractive

“The shopping centers and department store locations implanted in the heart of our city centers are already proving to be an urban planning failure in many places. If these locations also fail economically, our inner cities are in danger of collapsing.” Haus & Grund President Kai Warnecke said this today with a view to the current debate on the future of the locations of the department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. From the owner’s perspective, sticking to large inner-city locations is of no use. If these large-scale concepts fail, they pose a double problem: the frequency generator is gone and there is a risk of vacancy with all its consequences. Haus & Grund therefore demands not only a small-scale and diverse subsequent use of former department store locations, but also that these be traced back to small-scale ownership structures. Municipalities in particular are asked to tackle the issue and involve local interest groups in the city center at an early stage. The current Germany study, which Haus & Grund Germany was involved in, shows that inner cities in Germany can still be attractive for citizens even after the corona pandemic. This will succeed if the cities adapt to people’s changing needs in good time. People wanted more offers beyond the traditional shopping options. “Consumer battles are passé. The focus of visitors to the city center is on attractive urban development such as more green spaces. Administration, trade and gastronomy have to adjust to this,” said Haus & Grund President Kai Warnecke, summarizing the findings of the study.

Source: Haus & Grund