Groundbreaking Ceremony: “Kiezkante” to Fill Construction Gap on St. Pauli
Hamburg, May 1, 2026 – After more than a decade, a massive construction gap behind Spielbudenplatz in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district is finally being filled. On Thursday, the groundbreaking ceremony took place for the “Kiezkante” construction project, previously known as the Paloma-Viertel.
First excavators are now rolling over the crumbling concrete slabs behind the colorful construction fence. Twelve years after the demolition of the so-called Esso-Häuser, a 6,100 square meter area in the immediate vicinity of the Reeperbahn and Spielbudenplatz will see the construction of a hotel, a daycare center, 169 publicly funded apartments, and commercial spaces by 2029.
“Kiezkante” Replaces “Paloma-Viertel”
The plans also include spaces for the cultural and creative scene. In coordination with the Urban Development, Finance, and Culture Authorities, as well as the Hamburg-Mitte district office, the housing association Saga and the company Quantum are realizing the construction project. The costs were not disclosed initially.
“After a long period of stagnation, the wasteland in the heart of St. Pauli will finally become a lively place again,” said Finance Senator Andreas Dressel (SPD). The project had been stalled for years due to economic difficulties. Saga and Quantum took over in 2024.
Affordable Housing and Community Concerns
The project will create 169 publicly funded apartments with cold rents ranging from 7.10 to 12.10 Euros per square meter in the six to eight-story buildings. Urban Development Senator Karen Pein (SPD) called it a “very emotional” project that creates living space on St. Pauli.
Ralf Neubauer (SPD), head of the Hamburg-Mitte district office, praised the project for not building expensive luxury apartments, but rather 169 subsidized units. “I believe this is a project from St. Pauli for St. Pauli, even if I can understand the frustrations about some things that were left behind in the participation format.”
Disappointment Over Scrapped Details
However, there is disappointment among some residents. Steffen Jörg from the Project Council stated, “Almost everything that the neighborhood had pushed through was scrapped.” He added, “The way the needs here in the district are being dealt with is politically a scandal and unfortunately fuels political disillusionment.”
According to the Esso-Häuser initiative, the results of extensive citizen participation, which included freely accessible roofs, a climbing wall, a skate park, and a neighborhood alley, were “thrown in the trash.” Marco Hosemann, urban development policy spokesman for the Left parliamentary group, said: “Instead of the exemplary quarter with meeting places, a soulless piece of the city is now being created.”
Project Timeline and Background
The Esso-Häuser were evacuated in 2013 due to structural collapse risk and demolished in 2014. The current construction project aims to complete the new buildings by 2029, bringing new life to the long-standing vacant lot.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/spatenstich-kiezkante-soll-bauluecke-auf-st-pauli-fuellen,kiezkante-100.html
