Luxurious living intertwines with budget accommodations
The Hanseatic city of Rostock, known for its high quality of life, leisure activities, and social interaction, is currently grappling with a unique housing challenge - the growing demand for age-appropriate housing, often referred to as the "gray housing shortage."
According to Matthias Günther, the city is currently lacking around 8,800 apartments for the elderly, a number that could increase to 11,600 in the next 20 years. This shortage is a significant concern, particularly as Rostock's population continues to age.
However, Carsten Klehn, spokesperson for Wiro, a major housing organization in Rostock, considers the term "housing shortage" misleading in Rostock's case. Klehn argues that the city's housing issues are more complex, with factors such as bureaucracy and cost playing significant roles.
In an effort to address the issue, WG Schiffahrt-Hafen, the second-largest housing company in Rostock, is currently creating two large, age-appropriate housing groups for communal living in the new high-rise in Brecht-Park, Evershagen. Meanwhile, WG Union, the third-largest housing company, plans to build housing for students and small families or singles in Rostock by 2025.
Despite these efforts, four districts of Rostock appear in the state's top 10 worst performers in housing, with scores ranging from 3.49 to 3.60. Smaller towns like Jürgenstorf and Brüel, on the other hand, have higher average scores in housing compared to Rostock.
The city of Rostock originally aimed to build nearly 26,000 apartments by 2035, but now expects a need for only around 12,300 housing units by 2040. This revised estimate is due to factors such as a decrease in population growth and an increase in the number of people choosing to live alone.
The implementation of housing projects in Rostock, such as Werftdreieck, Großer Pohl, Warnow Quarter, among others, is often slow and does not alleviate the current tense housing situation. Roland Blank, CEO of WG Schiffahrt-Hafen, acknowledges a housing shortage for various target groups but cautions against excessive alarmism.
In contrast, Carsten Klehn states that the rental market in Rostock is largely balanced. However, he agrees that building in Rostock is currently too bureaucratic, too expensive, and thus much too costly.
A total of 16,664 people participated in the Heimatcheck survey, with 1,525 coming from Rostock. While the city's housing issues are a concern, it remains to be seen how these challenges will be addressed in the coming years. Wiro, for one, has initiated new building projects for an additional 500 apartments, with the start of construction of around 700 planned apartments approaching in the Werftdreieck quarter in 2025.
As Rostock continues to grapple with its housing issues, it is clear that a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach will be needed to meet the growing demand for age-appropriate housing and ensure that all residents have access to quality housing options.
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