Büchenbach-North urban renewal area

The Büchenbach-Nord urban renewal area is located in the Büchenbach district and belongs to the west of Erlangen. Büchenbach-Nord is separated from the eastern side of Erlangen by the Europakanal (eastern boundary of the study area), the Regnitzaue and the routes of the Deutsche Bahn and the Frankenschnellweg (A73).

The construction of the modern Büchenbach-Nord district was a prestige project of the city of Erlangen in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, Büchenbach-Nord has the highest social indices compared to other Erlangen districts. This is largely due to the concentration of GEWOBAU's occupancy-based housing stock in the northern part of the urban renewal area: From the extremely tight housing market in the city as a whole, Büchenbach-Nord is the first address for a tenant base that can only dispose of small and/or transfer incomes. These market participants find housing here in particular in the district's high-density municipal multi-storey residential buildings, which are often too small for families.

At the same time, Büchenbach-Nord is an astonishingly diverse residential area that has "grown out" of the old village of Büchenbach as a modern residential area. It includes generous open spaces, good to very good social and socio-cultural facilities, two parishes and a school location that provides great integration services and represents a special development potential for Büchenbach-Nord. Above all, however, Büchenbach-Nord has very committed social networks in which residents and representatives from the churches, tradespeople and service providers in the district are committed to the interests of Büchenbach-Nord.

Figure 2: Büchenbach-Nord urban renewal area (Photo Hajo Dietz, Nuremberg aerial photo)

By 2035, Büchenbach-Nord will continue to develop as:

The ISEK (Integrated Urban Development Concept) provides the planning basis for applying for funding in order to implement the development goals, action strategies and investment projects proposed in the target and action plan for the sustainable development of Büchenbach-Nord up to 2035.

• Living and building in and for neighborhoods
  A very high proportion of occupancy-based rental apartments in the study area are owned by the municipal housing association. An above-average number of tenants with social support needs live here. A major opportunity for the development of the area is that, particularly in cooperation with the municipal company, it is possible to closely dovetail investments in the housing stock with municipal support measures from the "Social Cohesion" program. Synergies for the neighborhood development of residential areas can be created on the basis of "integrated neighborhood concepts". The first new construction projects are to be realized on Odenwaldallee (GEWOBAU) and the Büchenbacher Anlage (BAUWERKE Liebe & Partner) as well as with the redesign of the public spaces of the "Neue Mitte". A new neighbourhood meeting point with low-threshold advisory services, barrier-free, small apartments and new (also owner-occupied) apartments in multi-storey buildings will strengthen the social mix and neighborhood encounters.
  
  
• Learning, education, exchange and advice
  Children and young people (the majority of whom are migrants) are particularly affected by poverty, social segregation and cramped living conditions. Social facilities for children and young people and schools therefore face particular challenges. The social infrastructure of the study area is broadly based. The buildings and outdoor facilities of the daycare centers, open youth social work centers (GOWI 27, Jugendhaus West), SCHEUNE, TAUBENSCHLAGS and the church community in Büchenbach-Nord are attractively designed. They make committed and important contributions to social cohesion in the district. However, the structural condition and the space available at the schools do not meet the growing requirements. The feasibility study on the development of the school site shows that the merger of the two buildings of the Hermann-Hedenus-Mittelschule at the Büchenbach-Nord site, the redesign of the open spaces and the integrated development in cooperation with the Mönau (primary) school open up the best educational and structural development opportunities for a "district school" with an international and integrative profile. At the same time, the feasibility study shows the possibilities for improved circulation and spatial linking of the district. In addition, there is a need for action across all age groups for outreach and socio-educational advice and increased networking in the residential areas.
  
  
• Networking climate protection & mobility and making it sustainable
  Büchenbach-Nord is a textbook example of the "car-friendly city" of the 20th century. Oversized road cross-sections favor moving and stationary vehicle traffic to the detriment of pedestrians and the quality of life in public spaces. At the same time, Büchenbach-Nord is built in a dense, green and relaxed manner. This urban development has particular potential for socially mixed, space-saving and climate-friendly urban development. The gradual conversion of access roads in favor of pedestrian and bicycle mobility, more greenery, water retention, attractive public spaces (for example at the local supply locations of the lower Dorfstraße or Am Europakanal) offer many opportunities to strengthen Büchenbach-Nord as a place to live and a center of life for its residents. The construction of the new Stadt-Umland-Bahn (StUB) in the coming decade will shorten the journey time by public transport from the Odenwaldallee stop to Erlangen city center to just a few minutes. The StUB stops must be easily accessible from the residential areas for pedestrians and cyclists, and the bus route network must be adapted accordingly.
  
  
• Living in the countryside - open space networks for exercise & health
  "Living in the countryside" is a particular potential in the Büchenbach-Nord district. The district has a "waterfront" on the Europakanal, the natural spaces on the Bimbach, Holzweg and Mönau. These are varied adventure and recreational areas. They must be well connected to the adjacent residential areas of the multi-storey residential complexes. In the "movement axes" of these landscaped and open spaces, more open offers for play, sport and encounters should be created, especially for senior citizens, families and older children and young people. The forest and vegetation structures in the district and the biotope areas west of the Regnitz floodplain should be better connected spatially. All open space enhancement measures (multi-storey residential complexes, public spaces, redesign of traffic areas) should aim to expand and connect habitats for insects, birds and microorganisms (animal added design) and provide areas for water retention.
  
  
• Image, communication & participation
  The international profile of Büchenbach-Nord - "110 nations" - is hardly positively present in the self-image of the district. It is also not represented with its own voice in the committees that speak in and for the district. "Culturally sensitive" planning and participation work, which takes into account people's different origins and precarious living situations and integrates them as potential, will be among the focal points of the work of Stadtteil-Werkstatt 56nord, which has been established as a regular neighborhood management.

Target and action plan within the fields of action

-Download target and action plan

Key measures

• The Neue Mitte as an integrated neighborhood development:
  Well-usable and beautiful open spaces, new apartments on the Büchenbacher Anlage (BAUWERKE Liebe & Partner) and Odenwaldallee (GEWOBAU), new local amenities and meeting places are to become the "New Center" of Büchenbach-Nord.
  
  
• Development of the Büchenbach-Nord school location:
  The joint development of Mönau elementary school and Hermann-Hedenus middle school in Büchenbach-Nord opens up the best educational and structural development opportunities for the "Büchenbach-Nord district school" and strengthens neighborly coexistence by opening up to the district.
  
  
  Figure 3: Projects for the 'new center' of Büchenbach-Nord (graphic ARGE Sonnabend and Prof. Schmidt with Lena Brake).

Impulse projects

• District workshop 56nord as neighborhood management, disposition fund
  (see section "What does Stadtteil-Werkstatt 56nord do as neighborhood management?")
  
  
• Neighborhood forum - strengthening participation:
  The district forum will report annually and publicly on the progress of the ISEK planning and further project implementation. All citizens have the opportunity to jointly assess the development of the district and identify new areas where action is needed.
  
  
• Art in public spaces participation project (sponsor: Department of Culture)
  In 2022, the project trilogy56nord by artist Anna Steward was implemented in Büchenbach-Nord.
  
  
• District festival 50 years of 50 tables (cooperation project with district stakeholders):
  Positive narratives for and from Büchenbach [56nord] need occasions, attractive offers and new festivals where the district can and invites others to celebrate. In July 2022, everyone came together and celebrated 50 years of Büchenbach-Nord at 50 tables.
  
  
  Figure 4: Logo of the district festival (City of Erlangen)

The district workshop 56nord in the AWO social center at Büchenbacher Anlage 27a assumes the following tasks as district management:

• the district workshop is a meeting point and contact point for all questions, comments or ideas regarding the ISEK and the further development of Büchenbach-Nord,
  
  
• It provides regular information on current topics and projects relating to the implementation of the ISEK and the development of the district,
  
  
• it networks projects and cooperates with district stakeholders such as the Diakonische Runde, the AWO district project or the schools,
  
  
• it does image and public relations work in and for the district,
  
  
• it initiates and supports small neighborhood projects with funds from the "neighborhood budget (disposition fund)"
  
  

The neighborhood management started its work in May 2022.

Figure 5: From the LEGO construction site of the 'Winterwerkstatt Büchenbach-Nord' (Photo: Alexander Lech).