Is the Frankfurt's "Presidium" still just an unrealized dream?
In the heart of Frankfurt, a historic building on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage has remained largely empty since 2002. Once the police headquarters, the building is now a cultural monument under the Hessian Heritage Protection Act. The future of the site, known as the "Das Präsidium" project, is uncertain due to the insolvency of the responsible developer, Gerchgroup.
The project, initially planned for completion by 2026, included a 175-meter-high high-rise tower with 48 floors, six additional six-story perimeter buildings, and a mix of office space, apartments, gastronomy, hotel use, and a publicly accessible sky bar. It also incorporated plans for a kindergarten, a new sports hall, and a canteen for the neighboring Falk school.
Gerchgroup, who purchased the property from the state of Hesse for around 212 million euros in 2018, estimated the investment sum for the complete implementation of the project at about 800 million euros. However, in 2023, Gerchgroup filed for insolvency, citing sharply increased interest rates and significantly increased construction costs as reasons.
No new investor has publicly shown interest in the project so far, and no new construction start date is foreseeable. The city of Frankfurt is pursuing a procedure to potentially influence a future use or resale of the former police headquarters site.
The police headquarters, built in 1914 by Richard Wiesmann, was destroyed during World War II air raids in 1944. It was temporarily relocated to various locations in Frankfurt and was fully restored in 1954. The old building was to be preserved and renovated in a historically appropriate manner as part of the "Das Präsidium" project.
Until a new project carrier is named, the former police headquarters will continue to be an unused area in the heart of the city. Given the current economic conditions in the real estate sector, it seems doubtful that construction will begin in the coming years. The site has been undeveloped since 2002, despite a long planning phase and repeated attempts to find a new use.
The "Das Präsidium" project, with its significant historical and architectural value, presents an opportunity for a new chapter in Frankfurt's urban landscape. However, until a resolution is reached, the future of this iconic building remains uncertain.
