After the original building plans were scrapped, the city secured two plots of land – citizens will have a say in future development
The city of Darmstadt, a center of science and research, is acquiring two plots of land between Frankfurter Landstraße and Darmstädter Straße in the Arheilgen district from ALDI's real estate company. This secures the city the option of developing these centrally located areas itself in the future. What will be built there is still undecided. The residents of the district will be involved in the planning process from an early stage.
The acquisition will be handled through the city's real estate management department (IDA). Its operating committee has already approved the purchase. The city council has taken note of the relevant proposal and will forward it to the city assembly.
ALDI's original plans met with resistance
ALDI's real estate company had originally acquired the land in order to build a new retail branch with underground parking and residential buildings there and on neighboring properties.
The project met with considerable resistance in Arheilgen. Numerous citizens had spoken out against the planned development. As a result, the city held intensive talks with the company.
In 2025, ALDI finally abandoned its original construction plans. According to the city, in addition to protests and discussions with city officials, changed economic conditions also played a role.
As a result, the development plan A 43, which had been specifically drawn up for the project, was repealed. The previously superseded development plans A 7.1 "An der Reitbahn" and A 7.2 "Um die Kleine Brückenstraße" are now in effect again.
Citizens should help shape the future of these areas
With the acquisition of these properties, the city aims to create the conditions for a new urban development. Unlike the original plans, the public will be involved in the process from the very beginning.
“With this purchase, we secure the land – and the opportunity to develop it together with the citizens,” explains Mayor and Head of Economic Affairs Hanno Benz.
The explicit aim is to involve people early on and to enable them to actually participate.
Both on-site events and digital participation opportunities are planned. This will allow the residents of Arheilgen to contribute their ideas, experiences, and suggestions to the future use of the properties.
In parallel, the city intends to provide regular updates on the status of the planning and the next steps.
“That’s precisely the point: to involve people early on and truly let them participate,” Benz emphasizes. Every phase and every decision should be transparent from the very beginning.
The city wants to secure long-term planning flexibility
City treasurer André Schellenberg also sees the land acquisition as an important step for the development of Arheilgen.
“The acquisition of these key properties in Arheilgen is an investment in the future of the district. Those who own land can shape the future instead of just reacting,” explains Schellenberg.
The purchase gives the city the opportunity to control further development itself and to align it with the needs of the district in the long term.
The city treasurer also thanked the municipal real estate management for conducting the negotiations. The contract talks were concluded quickly and resulted in a very positive outcome from the city's perspective.
The specific use has not yet been determined
What buildings or facilities might be built on the two plots of land in the future has not yet been decided. A concrete timetable for the development of the areas has also not yet been announced.
However, it is certain that the city wants to proceed with further planning together with the residents. This opens up a new perspective for the centrally located plots of land in Arheilgen after the failure of the original ALDI project.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
