Bessunger Straße and Kranichsteiner Straße: 16 new apartments with affordable entry-level rents planned
The Darmstadt City Council, in its meeting on May 7, 2025, approved subsidies for two construction projects by bauverein AG, which are being implemented within the framework of social housing promotion. This will create a total of 33 new apartments on Bessunger Straße and Kranichsteiner Straße – 16 of which will be subsidized.
“Creating affordable housing is our political mandate,” emphasizes Mayor Barbara Akdeniz. “Especially with bauverein AG as a partner, urgently needed apartments are being created in the city through well-thought-out infill development and closing of gaps in existing buildings.”
Two projects, 16 subsidized apartments
At Bessunger Straße 131–157 and Niersteiner Straße 7–17 , 20 new apartments are being created through infill development, nine of which are subsidized. At Kranichsteiner Straße 33–37, 13 apartments are being built by filling a gap in the existing building line – seven of which are subsidized, divided into four for low-income and three for middle-income residents. In addition, six residential units with twelve places for students and trainees are being created.
According to the city's funding guidelines, the starting rents are €6.91/m² (low income) and €8.29/m² (middle income). The apartments on Kranichsteiner Straße meet the Efficiency House Standard 40 , which allows for a moderate rent increase of €0.30/m². All apartments are accessible.
The city is subsidizing the projects with a total of €562,000 – €345,000 for Bessunger Straße and €217,000 for Kranichsteiner Straße. This funding is contingent upon additional state funding from the state of Hesse.
Continued high demand for housing
2,912 households are currently registered as applicants for subsidized housing – 2,407 for low-income apartments and 505 for middle-income apartments. This contrasts with approximately 5,800 rent-controlled apartments . The number of registered households has only decreased slightly compared to the previous year, according to Akdeniz.
“Our continued action is therefore required,” says the mayor. “Every new social housing unit helps to relieve the pressure on the housing market – whether through new construction, modernization or the acquisition of occupancy rights.”
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/dk)
