Renovated administrative center unveiled at the old REWAG headquarters: implied expenditure for renovations yet to be disclosed
Regensburg, Germany – The city of Regensburg is considering the renovation and expansion of the former REWAG headquarters on Greflingerstraße, which was purchased for 11.6 million euros with the intention of developing it as an administrative site. However, the plan has sparked debate among city councillors and the Bridge faction in the planning committee.
The Bridge faction opposes the town hall plans and advocates for selling the plots to a private investor for residential construction. The faction's mayoral candidate, Thomas Thurow, finds the concept for the conversion of the old REWAG headquarters convincing but insists on complete planning for the three additional buildings.
Meanwhile, the CSU, represented by Councilor Josef Zimmermann, is skeptical but not opposed. Zimmermann questions what has changed regarding the building's salvageability since his time as a REWAG supervisory board member. The CSU cites past concerns about the building's salvageability and the costs of renovation.
The planned expansion includes a parking garage and three additional buildings with up to five floors, providing 735 workplaces. The renovation of the old REWAG headquarters is currently estimated at 38.6 million euros, and it is expected to be completed in 2029 if work begins in 2027. The final costs for the renovation are expected to be confirmed in the fall of this year.
A demolition and new construction would cost 47.5 million euros, which is 2.4 times as much CO2 as a renovation. The renovation would save 1,600 tons of CO2 compared to demolition and new construction.
It's worth noting that around 4,000 employees work for the city of Regensburg, with approximately a quarter working in rented properties. These workplaces cost 3.8 million euros annually. With home office, these workplaces would be shared by 900 employees. Some of the rented buildings are in poor condition and require costly repairs.
The estimated cost for the final expansion stage of the REWAG headquarters development, including soil remediation due to contamination issues, is around 30 million euros. However, the exact cost of the expansion, including soil remediation, is currently unknown.
There has been no discussion yet about the contamination problem at the site, which contains hazardous waste from a former gasworks. This issue remains a concern for those advocating for a new construction or the sale of the plots.
In conclusion, the renovation and expansion of the REWAG headquarters in Regensburg is a topic of ongoing debate. The city council and various factions are weighing the costs, environmental impact, and feasibility of the plan, with a decision expected in the coming months.
- The Bridge faction, advocating for selling the plots, suggests that a private investor could use the former REWAG headquarters for residential construction, thus changing the property's purpose from an administrative site to residential accommodation through private investing in real-estate.
- Thomas Thurow, the mayoral candidate of the Bridge faction, supports the concept of the old REWAG headquarters' conversion but insists on complete planning for the additional buildings, indicating his commitment to both finance and real-estate development within the city.
