If all goes as planned by the Hafa Group, an amalgamation of four Bad Godesberg companies, this should change very soon. “We expect planning permission to go through by the summer,” says Andreas Thamm, who formed the Hafa Group together with Harald Gude, Frank Piotrowski and Achim Carl. Then construction work will begin on the “Im Bendel Residential/Business Park” – which is divided into three construction phases – as well as the land itself.

The first construction phase involves the section which borders on the company Stolle. Here the diggers will start rolling in during the summer, if all goes to plan. An office and laboratory complex will be built and is to be occupied by the company Sicat GmbH with around 250 employees and 80 to 90 parking spaces, according to Carl.

Traffic problems are not expected, “because we estimate that less than half of the employees will come to work by car” says the sales manager. Past experience has shown this to be the case: currently the Sicat employees work on the Brunnenallee and in several offices in the Fronhofer Galeria building. “Most people travel to work by bike and this won’t change in the future”, says Carl. The former and the new sites are not far from each other.

The second construction phase begins in autumn on the new Haribo outlet store. This will be located in the middle of the plot of land and will be around 1000m in size. There will be 100 car parking spaces as well as another seven for buses. Carl informs that this is more than there are now. “The shop will be around the same size as now, but more modern”, says Thamm. And there will still be enough room for the famous chestnut campaign. But that is not all: “we are considering building a 3-D gummi bear. As far as he is concerned, the bear “could be as tall as six metres.” This has not yet been decided, however.

These two construction phases, although one starts before the other – will be finished at the same time, in autumn 2018. Once the outlet store has moved into its new home and the old building on the third part of the land has been pulled down, the final phase will start: construction of the apartments and a car park for 120 to 130 cars. Thamm explains that these will also serve as “an optical and acoustic barrier.”

80 to 90 apartments will be built in a mixed residential and business complex of 6500m. On the ground floor on the Friesdorfer Straße side, a small retail sector will be built to provide “local shopping for residents” explains Carl. For example, the Hafa team can imagine a bakery, a drinks market and a hairdresser. But they are open to other ideas. In addition, there will be a children’s playground.

“The first people will be able to move in at the end of 2019,” says Thamm. This could be families or singles, old and young, commuters or couples. “We want to have a mix of different people.” It doesn’t matter who moves into the one, two three or four room apartments; “it is all about creating affordable housing,” stress Carl and Thamm. They have noticed that particularly large families have difficulties finding a place to live. Their size is not the problem, but rather the number of rooms. “In the 80’s and 90’s, larger rooms were increasingly built, but actually what we need are smaller rooms.” This is a gap in the residential market which the Hafa Group is intending to fill.

The buildings will form a U-shape with green spaces in the middle. The buildings which are parallel to Truchseß- and Weißenburgstraße will have two floors, those on the Friesdorfer Straße will have three. Presumably each one will have a penthouse level as well.

The catchword is sustainable living, according to Carl. Greenery will be planted on the roofs; the buildings will be heated using geothermal power and photovoltaic systems will be installed. The development will be accessed via the Friesdorfer Straße: opposite the fire brigade for the Sicat GmbH building. The Haribo shop and apartments will be reached via an extension to the Elsässer Straße. “Thus keeping Weißenburg- and Truchseßstraße quiet”, say the investors.

(Original text: Ayla Jacob, Translation: Caroline Payne)