Urban development funding 2010: Where federal money reaches Berlin

For the 2010 programme year, the German federal government provides around €535 million for urban development funding (Staedtebaufoerderung). Berlin, as a growing capital, benefits from several programmes. An overview of how the money is distributed and which boroughs are affected.

The programmes at a glance

Federal funds are split across six programmes, co-financed by the states (Laender):

• Stadtumbau Ost (approx. €95m) and Stadtumbau West (approx. €86m): Adapting to demographic and structural change
• Soziale Stadt (approx. €95m): Stabilising disadvantaged neighbourhoods
• Aktive Stadt- und Ortsteilzentren (approx. €86m): Inner-city development
• Staedtebaulicher Denkmalschutz East (approx. €70m) and West (approx. €30.5m): Preserving historic town centres
• Kleinere Staedte und Gemeinden (approx. €18m): Public services in rural areas

Where Berlin benefits

Under the "Soziale Stadt" programme, neighbourhoods in Neukoelln, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Wedding, and Spandau are in focus. Investments go into schools, community centres, and public spaces. "Stadtumbau Ost" mainly affects Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Lichtenberg: prefabricated housing estates are being modernised, residential buildings adapted to current needs, and green spaces expanded.

Funds from the heritage preservation programme flow into securing historic building fabric, for example in Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg. Strengthening local centres such as Karl-Marx-Strasse in Neukoelln aims to improve retail and public space quality.

What this means for owners

Funding areas indicate where public investment is changing the local environment. For owners of apartments or apartment buildings in these areas, this can shift the demand situation. In designated redevelopment zones (Sanierungsgebiete), there are also opportunities to participate in modernisation measures.