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Regensburg Ponders Revitalization Efforts for Neupfarrplatz, Following Kaufhof's Exit
The city of Regensburg seeks solutions to revitalize Neupfarrplatz, a downtown area that has since gone vacant following the departure of Galeria Kaufhof. As of yet, little has been proposed in the upcoming administrative committee meeting under the title "Action Package 'Revitalization at Neupfarrplatz.'"
Stefan Effenhauser/Stadt Regensburg
An outdoor seating area expansion on the southern side of Neupfarrplatz will be implemented this season, but this change is merely a response to the lack of previous demand for outdoor dining in that particular location.
The proposed "innovations" for the area include the addition of a doner shop and another gastronomic establishment, as well as the revival of a water play fountain, flanked by mobile plant containers.
According to the draft resolution for Thursday's meeting, the costs associated with the water play fountain, including rent, water, electricity, insurance, and marketing, amount to 150,000 euros for four weeks - a steep increase from previous years. Moreover, there are no longer subsidies available for such projects, leaving the city to finance the costs from its reserves.
The city administration is actively seeking sponsors to lighten the financial burden on the city budget, and preliminary discussions have already taken place. In 2023, the "Faszination Altstadt" association had an opportunity to purchase a water play fountain but was unable to do so due to the city's inability to fund the necessary costs.
Further efforts to revitalize Neupfarrplatz, especially in the vicinity of the vacant Kaufhof building, are currently under review. However, the cooperation of the building's owners is essential for these plans to come to fruition.
A market concept that includes Neupfarrplatz is slated to be presented to the city council in June. The fledgling design has been in development since 2020, but specific details about its nature have yet to be unveiled.
Despite the ongoing attempts to breathe life back into Neupfarrplatz, the city's budget for revitalization seems to be a point of contention, with no definitive information available regarding the planned expenditure for the water play fountain in 2023 or its comparative cost to previous years. Information on these matters might be found in local news sources or official city announcements from 2023.
The revitalization plans for Neupfarrplatz in Regensburg extend beyond the outdoor seating area and include the creation of a home-and-garden ambiance, with the addition of a water play fountain, mobile plant containers, and potential new restaurants, like a doner shop. However, the cost of maintaining the water play fountain, estimated at 150,000 euros for four weeks, poses a significant challenge for the city's lifestyle budget, prompting the search for sponsors.
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