Die Turley Barracks – Pilotprojekt der Konversion in Mannheim.
It is a historical opportunity for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The United States Armed Forces will be releasing about 750 hectares of military sites in Mannheim, Heidelberg and Schwetzingen by the end of 2015. This represents a unique opportunity for urban development for the affected cities – and an enormous challenge. From the beginning, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Rhine-Neckar has actively participated in the dialogue for the future use of the conversion sites on behalf of its member companies – not the least because these sites provide a tremendous opportunity for the expansion of the companies in the metropolitan region, just as they do for greenfield development. To this end, we have successfully campaigned that the policy position resolved by our General Assembly regarding the conversion, such as the designation of commercial real estate, was adopted in the corresponding guidelines by the cities of Mannheim, Heidelberg and Schwetzingen, which were devised together with the citizenry. Now that the process is picking up steam, we are offering different platforms in numerous events and inspections in close cooperation with the communities, where companies can obtain information and establish direct contact with the responsible persons.
Diskussion während einer Informationsfahrt der IHK Rhein-Neckar in den Turley Barracks in Mannheim.
The “pilot project” in Mannheim – where over 500 hectares in conversion sites are becoming available – is Turley Barracks. The negotiations with the City of Mannheim and the Institute for Federal Real Estate (BImA), which acquired the 13- hectare site near the city centre of Mannheim from the US Army, were lengthy and complicated. However, the city was able to report “mission accomplished” in early October 2012. The sale of the first of ten conversion sites was completed. 21 January 2013 marked the beginning of a new era: the reconstruction of the barracks into an urban residential and cultural quarter began. The Frankfurt architect and anchor investor, Tom Bock, calls his project “SoHo Turley”. He is investing around 100 million euros to turn his vision into reality over the next ten years. Nearly 300 apartments, offices, commercial premises, shopping opportunities, restaurants and studios will be developed. VRMagic, an expanding manufacturer of simulators for medical training, is the first enterprise that will be moving into one of the renovated and protected historical buildings in the summer.
Schlüsselübergabe vor der Kilbourne-Kaserne in Schwetzingen.
The subject of commercial sites is on the agenda for the 46-hectare Taylor Barracks in the Mannheim district of Vogelstang. The railway technology specialist Bombardier opened its e-mobility test track there in early summer. The project marks the launch of an engineering mile that is to develop alongside the conversion sites. Besides Bombardier, companies involved here include the Mannheim energy supplier MVV, the engine manufacturer MWM and the ABB electronics group. The two well-known Mannheim musicians Xavier Naidoo and Michael Herberger from the Söhne Mannheims band also want to become involved on the premises by opening a media park. The central element is to be a theatre, the stage of which can also be used for open-air events. Herberger and Naidoo have developed a concept for the entire premises together with the Diringer & Scheidel group of companies.
Flächen in einer Größenordnung von 200 Hektar räumen die Amerikaner in Heidelberg.
In Schwetzingen, the IHK Rhine-Neckar, together with the City of Schwetzingen and BlmA, organized a tour of Tompkins Barracks one day before the official handover in mid-March 2013. This was an offer which about 180 companies from the entire Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region gladly accepted. Their visit of the premises included a tour of a vehicle depot as well as housing and cafeteria facilities used by the US Armed Forces. The City of Schwetzingen is focussing its plans for the 36-hectare site on attracting commercial businesses. Concepts include relocating companies from the creative industry and start-ups to the protected historical barracks built in the 1930s. The city is considering using the large open space for distribution and logistics – and welcomes the opportunity of finally designating its own commercial sites. A residential complex is planned for the smaller Kilbourne Barracks.
Die IHK bietet mit zahlreichen Veranstaltungen zum Thema Konversion – wie hier in Heidelberg – eine Diskussionsplattform für ihre Mitgliedsunternehmen.
Industrial and commercial space is also scarce in Heidelberg. The conversion site in the range of 200 hectares could help alleviate the situation. However, the topics still dominating the public conversion discussion in the city on the Neckar river are housing, leisure time and green spaces. Therefore, it is particularly important for Heidelberg that business and commerce contribute to the discussion. The IHK Rhine-Neckar is participating in the decision-making process through the Development Committee, an advisory body consisting of members of associations, institutions and government. An excellent opportunity for attracting businesses is provided by the premises of the former Patton Barracks along the Speyerer Straße. Other options exist on the airfield, hospital site and in the Südstadt, a district around the headquarters. Heidelberg sees the focus on attracting research-related medium-sized enterprises and expanding local craft enterprises that previously could not be offered any expansion perspective. The largest site, Patrick Henry Village, and Mark Twain Village will be used to address one of Heidelberg’s biggest and most urgent problems – the creation of housing space.
Industrial and commercial space is also scarce in Heidelberg. The conversion site in the range of 200 hectares could help alleviate the situation. However, the topics still dominating the public conversion discussion in the city on the Neckar river are housing, leisure time and green spaces. Therefore, it is particularly important for Heidelberg that business and commerce contribute to the discussion. The IHK Rhine-Neckar is participating in the decision-making process through the Development Committee, an advisory body consisting of members of associations, institutions and government. An excellent opportunity for attracting businesses is provided by the premises of the former Patton Barracks along the Speyerer Straße. Other options exist on the airfield, hospital site and in the Südstadt, a district around the headquarters. Heidelberg sees the focus on attracting research-related medium-sized enterprises and expanding local craft enterprises that previously could not be offered any expansion perspective. The largest site, Patrick Henry Village, and Mark Twain Village will be used to address one of Heidelberg’s biggest and most urgent problems – the creation of housing space.
The author is president of the IHK Rhine-Neckar. He earned his doctorate in 1979 at the university of Mannheim. He then assumed a management position in a commercial law and auditing firm. In 1983, he joined the management board of Fuchs Petrolub before becoming a member of the board of FAG Kugelfischer AG in 1999. He has been CEO of Fuchs Interoil GmbH since October 2004.
