Preparations for the acquisition of the Kaufhof property in Hanau's city centre are nearing completion. This was announced by Hanau's Lord Mayor Claus Kaminsky (SPD). According to his ideas, the city must acquire the building with 16,000 square meters of gross floor area and develop it together with private partners in order to prevent a long vacancy. The Karstadt Group had decided in March to give up several of its department stores, including the Hanau Kaufhof branch, which is to be closed at the end of January next year.
Jan Schiefenhövel
Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.
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The purchase of the building on the market square is "basically ready for a decision", as the Lord Mayor explained. During the tests in recent weeks, the technical condition had been examined. Statics and fire protection are in order, and there is a need for renovation in thermal insulation so that energy can be saved.
Property of strategic importance
Thanks to the open structure of the property, it can be used for various purposes, as an investigation has shown, for example for residential and catering, for a gym or a health centre or other commercial purposes. The ground floor should "in any case" continue to serve trade or any other purpose that attracts customers, according to the city administration's statement. The basement with a direct connection to the underground car park under the market square can also be used multifunctionally, for example as a discotheque, for cultural performances or as a supermarket. An extension of the underground car park is also conceivable. Using the entire building exclusively for retail no longer works today.
In recent weeks, the legal issues of the purchase have also been examined. With its right of first refusal and the special urban planning law, the city has a strong position in the negotiations with the previous owner, Kaminsky said: "No one can buy without our intervention or fill the property with uses not wanted by the city." The municipality must act quickly, because this year will be the "fateful year of city centers" with the price increase due to rising energy costs and the online trade that has been booming since the pandemic.
The Kaufhof is the second largest property in the city centre after the Forum Hanau shopping centre and is therefore of strategic importance. "A long vacancy would thwart our efforts. Conversely, the Kaufhof building offers the historic opportunity to sustainably promote the struggle for a liveable city center," is the assessment of the head of the town hall. According to him, experience from other cities shows that without the city's intervention, there is a risk of years of vacancy, which will no longer pull down the entire surrounding area in a retrievable way, says the mayor.
Kaminsky wants to present his plans for the Hanauer Kaufhof to the municipal committees in the next step. A decision on the purchase of the property can be made according to his ideas in September. After the acquisition, the city should look for partners from the private sector to develop the building. These companies could participate in the project in different roles, as tenants and users or as co-investors. The competitive dialogue for the reconstruction of the city centre and the conversion of the former military area such as the Pioneer barracks could serve as a model for the involvement of private investors.