The most recent bad news for Graz (from for Sacher, for H&M) are no exception: in many places there are vacancies in the city centers. But the municipalities can defend themselves against it. “The municipalities are in their own hands,” said an expert.
When Christoph Zirnggast reports from the Heindl-Hause project, you get an idea of how new life can be inhaled in a city center: an empty house is purchased in a central location by the municipality of Großklein in January 2023-with another building and a lot Open space. A month later the tender for 500 m² of commercial space follows: some small companies register, their wishes are taken into account. The first tenants will now enter at the end of February.
“A graphic studio, a photo studio, a café plus sale, a hairdresser, a masseuse, a permanent cosmetic studio,” indicates Mayor Zirngast. The community also receives an office, even a bookable “co-working space” is set up per hour. Five subsidized rental apartments are being built on the top floors.
Municipalities collect millions of financing
3.3 million euros in total purchase and conversion, of which 70 percent of which are subsidies or financed loans. Stefan Spindler has supported the project since 2022 Styrian Local Core Coordinator. Großklein is a showcase project, but not the only one.
“We have had contact with more than 150 communities in the past two and a half years, and in the previous year it was 104,” said Spindler, who leads a team of three. You do not design master plans, but you provide concrete challenges, such as a vacancy in the center or a necessary kindergarten and school expansion.
“We advise with the municipal officers and government departments and see where there are possible subsidies. Then we accompany communities to develop real estate.
Examples of Murau via Pischelsdorf to Kapfenberg
A few examples: in Murau the old district administration, which has been empty for more than 20 years, was revived – with commercial space, the library, apartments. In Puch near Weiz, the village pub of the Hofer family moved to a former inn. The public space is also designed, such as the most important square of Bad Radkersburg or a park in Pischelsdorf. Z. B. is currently making the new building of the FH Joanneum in the Kapfenberg Center of the city of New Scope.
Tense financial situation in styric municipalities
Spindler: “The municipalities have it in their own hands to develop their place!”, But it is also clear that the financial situation of the municipalities is very tense, so they have to priorize priorities and their projects.
Back to Großklein. There the plans in the city center go beyond the Heindl-Haus. Mayor Zirngast: “We have bought an extra property, the building was dragged. We want to design the village square here. Sounds like a dismissal.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
