The publication deals with the challenges and opportunities that the profound change in retail for the inner cities has and shows how cities can realize in view of the increasing online trade and changing consumption habits.
The focus is on central questions about the future use of inner -city rooms. Among other things, the white paper examines how cities can deal with the decline in stationary trade, which concepts contribute to avoiding vacancies and how mixed-use models-i.e. the combination of living, working, shopping and leisure-can contribute to the revival of the city centers.
“The crucial question is: How do we manage to maintain city centers as a shop, but to further develop them as a living, multifunctional spaces?” Emphasizes Dr. Johannes Berentzen, Managing Director of BBE Handelsberatung. It is not sufficient to only adapt existing models – in demand are innovative and integrative approaches that respond to the needs of an urban society.
Another central topic is the role of cooperation between different actors. Municipalities, investors and project developers would have to work together on new usage concepts in order to design sustainable inner cities. In several cities, including Neuss, Ingolstadt and Nuremberg, the BBE trade advice together with its sister company IPH Group is currently accompanying concrete transformation projects. In particular, the focus is on new subsequent use concepts for former department stores.
“Our goal is to design inner cities as resilient, livable spaces that take trades, living, living, working and leisure into account equally,” explains Markus Wotruba, member of the management and head of location advice at BBE Handelsberatung.
