Vivawest invests in Cologne: 209 new apartments for Rodenkirchen!

Vivawest invests in Cologne: 209 new apartments for Rodenkirchen!

New life will soon return to Cologne-Rodenkirchen in the form of around 209 apartments. The Gelsenkirchen housing company Vivawest has now acquired two building plots with a total area of ​​14,400 square meters. This development is part of the project in the Ringviertel district, which was initiated by Bauwens Development GmbH & Co. KG and Convalor Projektpartner GmbH. Bastian Brusinski, head of portfolio management and acquisition at Vivawest, highlights the high demand for living space in the cathedral city. “We have shown a good hand in selecting projects,” he emphasizes in a press release.

The new apartments, which will be handed over to Vivawest ready for completion in 2029, are partly publicly funded. They will be built in four buildings, all of which meet the 40 QNG efficiency house standard. They are also equipped with modern heat pumps and photovoltaic systems, which significantly reduces the ecological footprint of the new building. Even in times of an enormous housing shortage that exists in Cologne and nationwide, this project is a step in the right direction. Together with the new apartments, an underground car park with 136 parking spaces will also be built for tenants. Attractive open spaces, including public green spaces and play areas, will also be part of the project, significantly increasing residential value.

The plausibility of the construction projects

Markus Greitemann, councilor for planning and construction for the city of Cologne, is pleased with the progress and the rapid implementation of this project. After all, the city is required to meet its housing construction targets, and there is definitely still a lot of work ahead of us. The housing shortage has been a pressing issue in Cologne for years. According to current statistics, only a quarter of the homes needed annually were completed in 2021, underlining the urgency of such developments. The federal government has set itself the goal of creating 400,000 new apartments every year, including 100,000 social housing, in order to reduce pressure on the housing market.

Vivawest's new project in Rodenkirchen comes at exactly the right time. Ahead of the official start of construction at the beginning of 2026, the apartments will be completed by mid-2029. This planning is not only ambitious, but must also obtain clear approvals in a constantly changing market. The development plan became legally binding at the end of 2024 and the city of Cologne has formulated clear specifications in the urban development concept for housing, which must now be put into practice.

Where is the journey going?

In Cologne, the challenges in housing construction are complex. Compared to the annual approvals required, which are around 6,000 apartments, at least 3,330 new apartments were approved in 2021. The ongoing population growth of up to 1.25 million by 2040 urgently requires new housing. This makes the planned creation of living space as part of the district development even more important.

With an expanded development on construction sites 3 and 4, the entire area will include additional living space and a 6-group daycare center. Vivawest consistently invests in new construction projects in order to meet growing demand and to be able to offer various target groups a home. “We are very proud of this project start and the opportunity to contribute to solving the housing shortage,” summarizes Alexander Jacobi, managing partner of Bauwens Development.

These developments in Cologne-Rodenkirchen show that the real estate market in the Rhineland offers several opportunities not only to successfully realize new building projects, but also to create future-proof and needs-based living space.

For further information on the details of the project and Vivawest's roofing and funding measures, we also refer to the information from iz.de, vivawest.de and ksta.de.