Berlin-Friedrichshain „Gründerbox M25“
As part of the federal and state programme „Social City” (Soziale Stadt), the quarter around “Boxhagener Platz” square is to be stabilized. To support the process, the „International Trade Centre GmbH“ (Internationales Handelszentrum GmbH) is letting two vacant administrative buildings to young start-ups for a reduced rent in cooperation with the district management for Boxhagener Platz. The district management is furthermore also providing the start-ups with business management advice.
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Context
Source: Quartiersmanagement
The Boxhagener Platz quarter is situated in the Berlin district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. With approximately 19.300 residents, the 75 ha quarter is one of the city’s most densely populated areas and comprises typical late 19th century (the first period of foundation) buildings, block structures and a mixture of small-scale residential and business units. Ever since the 1990s, the residential population and business operations have been engaged in a restructuring process that is characterized by a loss of industrial jobs, widespread vacancies in industrial and commercial buildings and shrinking retail occupation, as well as a growing drain of families with children and employed individuals. These general conditions led to the quarter's inclusion in the federal and state programme “Social City”. The programme is aimed at sustainably upgrading the area as part of an integrated action concept and at reclaiming it as a residential, employment and leisure location with the broad involvement of the local population.
Project description
Source: Quartiersmanagement
Starting in 2000, a „founder scene“ composed of start-ups mainly addressing a younger public has begun to establish itself in the area. Since June 2003, the „International Trade Centre GmbH", which is the former housing association “Friedrichshain WBF”, has been letting industrial and commercial spaces in the “Founders’ Box M25” (Gründerbox M25), a vacant administrative object, to young start-ups at a reduced rent. The „Gründerbox“ is situated in an atrium building and features 34 individual business units. Their sizes range from 12,5 to 48 m² and they can be rented individually.
The conditions are that prospective settlers have been engaged in an independent business for over 3 years and that the trade they practise is “quiet". The tenants pay a flat rate amounting to 3,50 euro/m² including service charges and electricity. Communal facilities such as tea kitchens and sanitary rooms as well as modern telecommunication connections are available to all units. The reduced rate is granted to the tenants for an initial push-start period of approximately 12 months. Following this period, the rent subsidies provided by the programme “Social City” amounting to 3 euro per m² of rented industrial space are cancelled. The concept is rounded off by business management consultancy services performed by a business consultant and an employee of the district's business promotion department. This combination of affordable space and consultancy services, if mediated by an improved district economy, as is the case here, also contributes to social stabilization. The excellent response to the offer of „Gründerbox M25”, particularly in the new media and design trades, has resulted in the project being extended by the “Gründerbox S23” in a neighbouring street within a very short space of time. This new „Founders’ Box“ operates under identical conditions. Both buildings were let completely within a very short space of time. Almost 70 businesses providing approximately 150 jobs have settled in them.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
June 2003 | Start of Gründerbox I, "M25" |
Aug. 2003 | All units of Gründerbox “M25” are let |
Nov. 2003 | Start of Gründerbox II, "S23" |
Febr. 2004 | All units of Gründerbox “S23” are let |
Aims
- Letting and maintaining the value of vacant real estate
- Promotion of young business start-ups
- Upgrading the image of a late 19th century, inner city quarter which is engaged in a process of radical change
- Creating jobs near residential spaces.
Types of measures
- Development of new marketing strategies and forms of cooperation
- Rent subsidy for start-ups and business establishments paid for one year
- Business management consultancy services
Innovations
Source: Tina Hörmann
With the „Gründerbox M25“, a housing society is supporting small-scale business promotion measures for business start-ups. The high demand from new media and design businesses enhances the quarter’s attractiveness. The result being that space potentials previously not in demand could be let while the value of the society’s own real estate could be maintained at the same time.
Sources
- Internationales Handelszentrum GmbH (International Trade Centre GmbH) (2004): Gründerbox I (Founders’ Box I), Mainzer Str. 25. Excerpt from the project application, Berlin
- District management “Quartiersmanagement Boxhagener Platz” for the Berlin Senate Administration for Urban Development (Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung Berlin) (2003): InfoBox nr. 40 (district newspaper), Berlin
- http://www.boxhagenerplatz.de
- http://www.box-m25.de
- http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/wohnen/quartiersmanagement/de/boxhagener/index.shtml
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 10247 - town: Berlin - street: Mainzer Straße 25.
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/TM4SSCHGeik
Last update: 19.02.2018