Case Studies  The Karolinenviertel Case in Hamburg - St. Pauli

Role of the development agency

STEG as the development agency has been looking after the redevelopment procedure in the Karolinenviertel since 1990, instructed by the Ministry for Construction and Traffic Affairs. A redevelopment-frame-contract regulates the basis and frame conditions. The specific tasks are being negotiated annually between BBV and STEG and agreed upon in contract on the basis of the regeneration concept. STEG has a neighbourhood office within the area and has comprehensive local knowledge about the demands of the people, entrepreneurs and further local protagonists. STEG comes up with concrete proposals for the priorities in the area which are being co-ordinated with the redevelopment advisory board and then presented to the BBV.

If there are overlapping projects, STEG in its representative function will get in touch with other Hamburg expert-authorities or with the European commission to get expertise and financial support for this procedure.

Besides the role as redevelopment representative, STEG is at the same time also trustee of real estate. The free disposal of city trustee capital is of especial significance for the neighbourhood development. Because of the double-function redevelopment agency / area manager and trustee modernisation and redevelopment of objects, apartment units or commercial spaces can be executed more compatible with the neighbourhood instead of the necessity to convince a private property owner of the importance of the work. Also the development of key-real estates for example the former slaughterhouse or the former St. Pauli Harbour-Hospital are of immense importance.

The double-role of STEG is often criticised by part of the inhabitants. Own STEG interests in exploitation with the development of projects are being insinuated which from the point of view of some inhabitants is contrary to the representation of interests of the population. This basic conflict follows STEG’s work since the beginning of the redevelopment procedure. But the actual work shows that this contradiction could be solved successfully. The feared revaluation of the neighbourhood of some inhabitants and ‘activists’ could be arranged socially compatible due to ‘smooth’ modernisation and redevelopment. In addition the trustee stock has a stabilising effect on the rents since almost 95 % of the redeveloped public owned flats were redeveloped by public means and the rents remain at a social compatible level.

III. Protagonists and partners of urban regeneration
3.1. Role of the public partners    3.3. Role of the inhabitants