Development Project in Wilmersdorf: 123 residences by Becker & Kries on Cornelsenwiese
In the heart of Wilmersdorf, a long-debated development project is taking shape. The Cornelsenwiese area, nestled between Sodener and Wiesbadener Straße, has been a subject of controversy due to its proposed transformation into a 4,000 square meter green and recreation area.
The project, known as "Sodener Wohnen," is seen as an example of cautious densification by Senator for Urban Development Christian Gaebler (SPD). The development will include six new buildings supplementing an existing residential quarter from the 1960s, with a mix of privately and publicly funded apartments allowing for social diversity, according to Senator Gaebler.
The project will result in 123 new rental apartments, 32 of which will be subsidized. To cater to the needs of the community, a daycare center with ten places will be set up in an existing building. Additionally, photovoltaic systems are planned on the roofs for resident use via a tenant electricity model, aiming to promote sustainability.
The new buildings will be constructed using wood-hybrid construction and are planned to meet the energy standard KfW 55. The project will also include an underground garage with 77 parking spaces, and an open space program to improve the microclimate and increase the quality of stay in the quarter.
Despite ongoing protests, the District Assembly of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf has continued to drive the project forward. The decision to continue the project was justified by possible damage claims against the district if the development were to be prevented.
The project remains controversial in the neighborhood, with some seeing it as an important contribution to combating the housing shortage, while others accuse the government of pursuing quarter development at the expense of urgently needed green spaces. A citizen initiative to preserve all green spaces in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf collected over 18,000 signatures in 2016, although the name of the specific initiative opposing the development of the Cornelsenwiese is not explicitly mentioned.
The "Sodener Wohnen" project is being developed by Becker & Kries, and information on rentals for the new apartments is expected to be available at the beginning of the same year. The new buildings are scheduled to be completed by 2026. Critics argue that the area is already highly dense, and further development would reduce the quality of life. However, supporters of the project believe it will bring much-needed housing and sustainability measures to the community.
