Kaiserstrasse innovation district: Friedberg plans to strengthen the shopping street!

Kaiserstrasse innovation district: Friedberg plans to strengthen the shopping street!

The city of Friedberg is facing an exciting new beginning: the “Innovationsquartier Kaiserstrasse” association was launched on Wednesday evening. Under the leadership of Sue van Bömmel, the owner of the Burck jewelry store, a Business Improvement District (BID) is to be created here. The main goal? To transform Kaiserstrasse into a more inviting and chic shopping destination, where both residents and visitors like to stop by.

With a clear focus on increasing attractiveness, the club's concept includes a variety of measures. Plans include targeted vacancy management, activities for the city center and attractive social media appearances. A design statute for more beautiful facades is also on the agenda. Thanks to these initiatives, the aim is not only to retain existing customers, but also to bring new providers on board. The association wants to strengthen the business situation and upgrade Kaiserstrasse as a residential and cultural location.

A BID for Friedberg

A BID, which stands for "Business Improvement District," is a clearly defined area where property owners and businesses work together to improve the surrounding area. This concept originated in Toronto, Canada, in the 1960s and has since established itself as an effective tool for downtown revitalization. In Germany, the first BID law came into force in Hamburg in 2005 to strengthen retail and service centers. Together with local stakeholders, the Friedberg association would like to set the course for a positive development on Kaiserstrasse.

In the coming weeks, a catalog of planned projects and a budget will be drawn up, which will then be presented to the city administration by the end of the year. In addition to Sue van Bömmel, Natascha Schmidt, operator of several lifestyle stores in Friedberg and Bad Nauheim, is also active in the club. To ensure the effectiveness of the project, at least 15 percent of residents must agree to the initiative.

Experiences from the region

The topic of BIDs is not new in Hesse. In Giessen, for example, there are already four such initiatives that recently achieved an approval rating of an impressive 90 percent. The monthly cost contribution for members is around 120 euros. The big advantage of BIDs is that everyone involved is held accountable, which avoids the so-called free rider problem. Instead of just a few benefiting, everyone contributes to the improved attractiveness of the area and ultimately benefits together - a concept that has proven successful in many German cities, as various reports show.

It is clear that the Friedberger BID has good potential for a breath of fresh air in Kaiserstrasse. With the support of residents and precise planning, the project should not only significantly improve the appearance of the street, but also the citizens' attitude to life.

Interested readers can find further information about the concept of BIDs at ihk.de and baukultur.nrw. The Kaiserstrasse innovation district could actually become the nucleus of a new, lively Friedberg.