Offenbach: Demolition of Toys’R’Us building has started

• fromJonas Nonnenmann

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Offenbach The concrete block is to make way for several new buildings.

The demolition of the former Toys’R’Us building opposite the Marktplatz S-Bahn station has started. Mayor Felix Schwenke (SPD), Head of Building Paul-Gerhard Weiß (FDP) and two investors met on Monday for the symbolic start.

The 130-meter-long concrete block from the 1970s that was hated by many gave way to a new building. According to the city, the large western part of the parking garage will be demolished by summer. In its place, a building with apartments, offices and retail space is to be built, as well as an 18-story residential and commercial building.

The eastern part of the parking garage is being renovated; In the future, 365 cars and 650 bicycles are to be accommodated. The day care center will remain and will be expanded to four groups by a new building on the roof of the building. White, head of the building department, praises the staying power of the investors. The project is “extremely demanding”, according to Weiß, many different interests had to be reconciled. “It admittedly took a little longer, but the result counts.”

White believes it is important that there will be direct access from Salzgässchen to Sandgasse in the future via a new square. In contrast to the old block, the planned new buildings offer space for a passage. “We bought the two ugliest buildings in Offenbach and want to make something great out of them,” says investor Michael Dietrich. According to the city, he is pleased with co-investor René Rudolph that after four years of development, things are now moving ahead.

Student apartments

Due to the corona pandemic, the planned new building is still in the development plan process; Investor Dietrich hopes to become legal by the end of the year.

Service providers, retailers and restaurateurs will move into the residential and commercial building on the ground and upper floors. According to the current plan, 60 condominiums are being built and 40 residential units for students. It should start at the beginning of 2021 and the construction should be completed two years later.

Opposite, the renovation of the city center has already begun; at the end of the year, the city also plans to start redesigning the market square.

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