Sale of the Kölsch brewery site in Mülheim collapsed – what now?

Sale of the Kölsch brewery site in Mülheim collapsed – what now?

On the former site of the traditional brewery “Haus kölscher Brautradition” on Bergisch Gladbacher Straße in Mülheim, an exciting chapter has come to an end for the time being. The agreement concluded in August 2021 between Cube Real Estate and the Radeberger Group to purchase the area has been reversed, as ksta.de reports. The exact reasons for this decision are still unclear, but while Radeberger is not pursuing any further development plans, the site is standing still for the time being.

The 3.5 hectare property, which was used for Kölsch production for 131 years, will remain unused since January 2022. The district mayor of Mülheim is disappointed with the unused industrial wasteland, especially since the urban development committee only changed a development plan in September 2023 to enable the development of the area. 222 apartments were planned, including 67 with low rent, as well as extensive commercial space and leisure activities.

Planned urban district

Cube Real Estate had originally made big plans: a mixed-use urban district was to be created under the name “Brauwerk”, which would involve a total investment of around 400 million euros. In addition to living space, this new district should also include offices, dining options and a daycare center for 100 children, explains cube-real.estate. However, this vision has been shaken by current developments.

The large area offers many opportunities that have already been recognized by city planners. The city described the site as an “island location” in a residential area and emphasized the need for new housing and commercial space. The Radeberger Group, which owned the brewery, had already announced in 2019 that it would relocate production to Feldkassel, while the brand names Sion, Gilden and Co. have since been bottled in another region.

Sustainability in focus

Cube Real Estate also wants to pay particular attention to sustainability. The draft envisages continuing to use existing structures and thus conserving material resources and reducing CO₂ emissions. Among other things, new wooden roof extensions and targeted greening of the facades are planned, which will not only improve the microclimate but also counteract air pollution, as explained in koeln.business.

With such innovative approaches, the project could not only create living space, but also make a valuable contribution to urban densification and at the same time to climate protection. Close dialogue with politicians and neighbors is also a central concern in order to promote acceptance of the conversion and redesign of the surrounding area.

However, the reversal of the sale has shown that there is initially uncertainty here, while the city and urban development are hoping for a new concept. It remains to be seen what will happen next with this valuable piece of Cologne - perhaps with a new buyer who will take up the potential of this “island location” and implement it. The area undoubtedly still has a lot to offer.