In Aachen, social and housing development work closely together to upgrade urban neighborhoods. The Preuswald district is a pilot model for integrated neighborhood development. This residential area in a peripheral location, which was originally conceived as a high-quality neighborhood in the countryside, has faced a number of challenges in recent years. For example, the second social development plan for the Preuswald social area revealed high integration requirements and the worst socio-economic development of all Aachen neighborhoods. In terms of social structure, the proportion of transfer benefit recipients was particularly high. At the same time, there was an enormous investment backlog in the local infrastructure. Due to these general conditions, the entire neighborhood was at risk of segregation.
Thanks to the ongoing commitment of local stakeholders and the integrated neighborhood development process initiated by the City of Aachen, a positive development has been initiated.
Since 2010, the Preuswald district conference has been providing important impetus for development as a central platform in which the interests and resources of local stakeholders can be pooled and cooperation intensified.
The demographic aspect is also taken into account in Preuswald, with the AWO's senior citizens' meeting center offering a wide range of opportunities for intergenerational exchange.
As a further driver of neighborhood development, the city of Aachen set up a general neighborhood management office in the Preuswald district office in 2011, which acts as an interface between the administration and local people and provides a wide range of advice. The neighbourhood manager also plans activities and events together with the stakeholders and provides support in their implementation.
In 2015, Stadterneuerungs- und Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft NRW mbH was commissioned to create an integrated neighborhood development concept in order to closely dovetail social impulses in the neighborhood with an infrastructural upgrade of living space and the surrounding area. The steg NRW report contains a comprehensive package of measures, which was implemented consistently and successively in close cooperation with the stakeholders, so that all prioritized social and infrastructural measures have been initiated or already implemented.
The range of local amenities has been expanded to include a kiosk and a discount store with two additional commercial units on Lütticher Straße. The infrastructure for children and young people has also been improved: the daycare center was able to move into a new building in 2017 and construction work has begun on a new school building, with completion planned for summer 2023. In the spirit of integrated neighborhood development, the plans for the "school in the neighborhood" were developed in a participatory process.
Housing construction and the residential environment were also examined in the context of the steg report: The Vonovia housing association has carried out extensive modernization and refurbishment measures on the residential buildings and the open spaces close to the apartments, which have led to an increase in the quality of life in the neighborhood.
In close coordination with Vonovia's activities, the city of Aachen submitted a funding application for the renovation and redesign of the 9,000 m² central green space as part of the "Social Integration in the Neighbourhood 2018 Investment Pact" urban development funding program. The planning was developed in a participatory manner in a moderated workshop with the district conference and a public discussion. The result of the participation was the idea of a "neighborhood park for everyone". A central location with an integrative effect for the entire neighborhood was created through an intergenerational, sustainable range of uses (play, exercise and encounters). After the funding application was approved, the plans were fleshed out in consultation with local residents and politically approved in June 2020. Well-designed public green spaces are an important building block, especially in neighborhoods with special challenges, in order to increase the quality of life and stay and create meeting places for young and old.
The construction work took place from fall 2021 to fall 2022. The neighborhood park has now opened and invites people to play, have fun, meet and interact
Overall, it can be stated that the Preuswald district is making good progress. The activities have stabilized the social structure, improved the quality of living and increased the attractiveness of the neighbourhood. This was made possible by close cooperation between all stakeholders - residents, tenants, institutions, etc. - on site, the city of Aachen with its various departments and the housing industry, in this case Vonovia and the state and Stadtmarken as the largest portfolio holders in the district.
The sale of the high-rise building at Altenbergerstrasse 4 and the three adjoining residential buildings to Landmarken AG will drive forward the structural development, which is expected to provide further impetus for the development of the district. The high-rise building in particular, whose core refurbishment has now been completed, is an urban development highlight in Preuswald and will provide added value through ground floor areas that can be used communally and are open to the neighborhood.
A good 50 years after the foundation stone was laid for the Preuswald housing estate, it is clear that the development of neighborhoods can be successfully shaped by a broad alliance of stakeholders. A model for integrated neighborhood development that can also be transferred to other social spaces.