City Management

The Promenadenring plays an important role for Leipzig. It has shaped the city since the Middle Ages. It was the venue of the Peaceful Revolution, and it is Germany's oldest urban landscape park. Even in the 21st century, it remains a central place for Leipzig. It is more than just a road that takes you from A to B. The Promenadenring of tomorrow brings together many different needs. It offers open spaces for activities and recreation. It radiates into the surrounding areas. And it shapes our paths into the future.

Leipzig has nine district centers. They are diverse and have developed remarkably in recent years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and online retail have affected this development. Therefore, the city’s previous development goals for the district centers must be reviewed. The study explores the following questions: What comes after retail? What profile should our (district) centers have in the future? And how does the city center relate to them? Can the recommendations of the developed action plan continue to be pursued?

Promoting sustainability and revitalising vacant retail space – these are the two pillars on which the idea for a zero-waste department store is built. Possible usage concepts are currently being developed under the direction of the municipal Stadtreinigung Leipzig. One thing is certain: this department store is intended to give circular economy a real boost. The sale of refurbished and repaired products, for example those coming from the recycling centres of Stadtreinigung Leipzig, is a conceivable option. This conserves resources and adds value to goods. Brought together under one roof, craftspeople, artists, designers and retailers work alongside associations and organisations. Customers will find more than just recycled products: practical services as well as advisory, cultural and educational offerings will also be available. Together with residents, cultural providers and businesses, Leipzig aims to raise awareness in the department store around the themes “Reduce, Repair, Rethink”. With this department store, Leipzig is also pursuing an important goal adopted by the city council: Leipzig wants to become a “Zero Waste City” and strategically reduce waste. Stadtreinigung is currently developing the concept, and implementation is planned for 2024.

A feasibility study will examine new working environments for the city administration with a modern, innovative office landscape on a pilot site. This is intended to increase the attractiveness of administrative locations in the city center. Side effect: unused inner-city areas come back to life.

It needs to be clarified what impact the planned education campus on the southern edge of the city center may have. This involves examining whether a detailed analysis is necessary for all individual factors. In addition, answers are sought to the following questions: What will the level of utilisation be? Will regular events make the location more attractive, and can new opportunities for interaction emerge? The results of the potential analysis will serve as a basis for further planning with regard to the specific construction measures.

The changing age structure in individual district centers such as Mockau and Georg-Schumann-Straße requires new forms of information and counselling for senior citizens. To address this, a mobile counselling service is planned. A suitable vehicle must be rented. Furthermore, a person or organisation is needed that can provide flexible and appropriate on-site advice and concrete support to older residents.

A local association is expected to operate the Info Center at Georg-Schumann-Straße 126 as a cooperation partner in the future. A commercial street management team will be deployed to bring together the interests of business owners and property owners, tenants, and civil society actors. Such cooperation will help prevent vacancies, expand cultural offerings, and strengthen local retail and service providers. In addition, a digital networking and self-help system will be created. The Info Center is intended to become a place of diversity and serve as a meeting point and workspace for volunteers. In this way, a new anchor point for the urban community can emerge.

The city wants to enhance the attractiveness of Mockau and bring new life to the district. To achieve this, it supports dialogue between local businesses and new ideas. Individual usage concepts are intended to fill vacant spaces and increase the variety of offerings. Comprehensive ideas and image campaigns are needed to upgrade the district.

Waste should be reduced in all areas of life. To support this, the amended Packaging Act, which affects the food service industry, came into effect on January 1, 2023. The legislation requires restaurants and food retailers above a certain size to offer their customers reusable dishes for takeout. Smaller businesses are required to fill customer-provided containers upon request.

With the project “Allerlei to go”, Stadtreinigung Leipzig and the BUND Regional Group Leipzig offer consultations for restaurant owners, cafeteria operators, or retailers in the city. You can contact Mirko Schimmelschmidt (BUND Leipzig) with your questions on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 0151 56806972.

The project aims to establish more reusable options together with partners. A competition will reward special commitment and new ideas. The goal is to show everyone: each individual can contribute to reducing packaging waste in the form of single-use cups and boxes.

Leipzig’s city centre has many busy shopping streets. But there are also areas where more needs to happen again, for example in the southern part of the inner city. Since Karstadt left, new offerings have been sought here.

In the Petersbogen, the Department of Culture and Leipzig’s cultural institutions have tried out a new concept: culture and local initiatives are meant to enter into dialogue and use the space together. This brings together offerings from the Leipzig online marketplace “locally happy” and Leipzig’s cultural institutions. Readings and exhibitions are planned, while local products will also be presented. The important thing is the opportunity to create experiences, but also to be open to networking, event, and presentation formats that offer an experimental space for art, culture, and regional products.

www.locally-happy.de/vendors/leipzig-04

In April 2023, the concept store “leipzig 04_ Showcase for Culture and Local Products” opened in the Petersbogen.

Outdoor sports are trending and need new momentum, especially after the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. To provide more opportunities, two new freely accessible sports facilities are planned. With a streetball court and a street workout area, not only body and mind but also neighbourhoods will be revitalised, and dull urban spaces will be put to good use for sport and movement.

Salzgässchen is being redesigned to be climate-friendly and adapted to the impacts of climate change in the highly dense and paved city centre. This will create a place that can be visited without restriction even on hot summer days. The planting of trees, the construction of a play area, and additional seating will improve the quality of stay.

The Schwanenteich area at the back of the opera house is to be redesigned in accordance with landscape protection requirements to create a publicly accessible space with attractive features. To achieve this, a competition for urban and landscape architecture will be announced. In the long term, new planting, playgrounds, and catering options are intended to make the small park more appealing. On the roof of the former opera casino, development will create a public space with a gastronomic offer.

Between the busy shopping streets in the city center and the Museum of Fine Arts lies a kind of “buffer zone”: the courtyard between the museum and the corner buildings. The city now wants to use parts of this area for one year for installations, performances, or productions. The inviting space is intended to create a bridge between the street and the museum. A two-stage competition for the concept is currently underway. They are looking for ideas that bring people together, inspire them, and are open to everyone. This way, the M2plus block will open up to the city and come to life.

On 22 May, the Department of Culture invites municipal and independent cultural actors to discuss the current challenges facing the urban community and to help develop solutions. The aim of the format is also to promote mutual understanding between the city administration and cultural actors. Conflicting goals are reduced, and recognition and appreciation are encouraged. Cooperation within the urban community is essential to bring about lasting change. This dialogue format is committed to supporting that.

www.leipzig.de/welttagkulturellevielfalt

The cooperation between partner cities is diverse and varied. Across borders, people come together. They meet and support each other. They work together on solutions, learn from one another, or advocate for shared interests.

Leipzig has 15 city partnerships, two district partnerships, cooperation partnerships, and many other contacts around the world. The “International Days of City Partnerships” make this diversity accessible to everyone. Public formats such as concerts, outdoor exhibitions, educational, creative, and informational offerings, as well as traditional cuisine from the partner cities, contribute to this.&60;

In week-long event formats in 2023 and 2025, Burgplatz at the New City Hall will be brought to life as a gateway to the city centre. It is intended to become a special attraction for children and families. Right in the heart of the city, Leipzig’s international character becomes visible and tangible in public spaces.

Project contact:

Rosa Goldfuß
Department of International Cooperation
Phone: +49 341 123 2144
Email: rosa.goldfuss@leipzig.de

The Leipzig city centre is intended to become more attractive for residents and tourists. To achieve this, new digital and analogue experiences are being created.

The project "Leipzig loves Regional" focuses on food and artisan craftsmanship. Products "Made in Leipzig" are being promoted through various media channels.

The "Explore Leipzig" app offers locals and tourists interactive city tours with plenty of information and visual impressions. It will be available in app stores at the end of June 2023.

The aim of the projects is to enhance the visitor experience and increase the length of stay of guests.

www.leipzig.travel/regionale-produkte