An ace up the sleeve
30 hectares of new space to be made available for manufacturing industries, offices and service providers
The revitalisation of the "Gleislinse" area between Schöneweide railway yard and Groß-Berliner Damm is starting to take shape. It is being developed into an attractive commercial area by DB Netz AG and state of Berlin, allowing for future bridging between the Johannisthal/Adlershof development zone and Adlershof's centre.
The course is set for the development of the "Gleislinse" area. Soon, the fallow ground formerly used by German Rail will complement the development zone, adding another 30 hectares of new space to be made available for manufacturing industries, offices and service providers. "It's thanks to the cooperation between Deutsche Bahn AG, the state of Berlin and the Treptow-Köpenick district government that this extension can be realised. Above all, this would not have been possible without subsidies from the GRW budget provided by the Senate Department of Economy, Technology and Research,“ explains Adlershof Projekt's Head of Sales and Marketing Ute Hübener. Her department is instrumental in supporting the development scheme with regard to planning activities as well as concept and feasibility analyses.
Years of groundwork are beginning to pay off. As of October 2014, the three-kilometer track section currently still in use will be transferred by Deutsche Bahn from its present location at the southwestern edge of the site further towards the north, thus finally clearing the path for the area's development. Wagner-Régeny-Straße will be extended to a total length of four km providing access to the future commercial zone's properties.
Eventually connecting the revitalised Schöneweide railway yard to Groß-Berliner Damm, Benno-König-Straße will be of particular interest to long-established Adlershofers as well as residents of the "Wohnen Am Landschaftspark“ and "Wohnen am Campus“ districts. Complemented by a generously spaced forecourt, the S-bahn station is going to be accessible for cyclists and pedestrians via the re-opened bridge. Together with the bridge planned at the eastern part of Johannisthal landscape park, there will be two additional bridges available for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the railway tracks and Adlergestell on their way to Adlershof's centre. "We are glad to have found a solution which requires not a single allotment garden to make way for the bridge,“ says Frank Wittwer, manager of Adlershof Projekt's Gleislinse development project.
Moreover, lovers of nature will appreciate the new short connection between Johannisthal landscape park and Köllnische Heide. Equally, the members of Berlin's Steam Locomotive Society, an organisation of enthusiasts actively preserving Germany's history of transport at the heritage-protected roundhouse, will heave a sigh of relief as their property will remain untouched and nostalgic train journeys will continue to start from here. "The society will actually profit from the area's development by becoming more noticeable," explains Adlershof Projekt's Deputy Manager Planning and Development Beate Glumpf.
In the long-term, the location's technology companies will equally benefit from the development. Ute Hübener is pleased: "We are creating an attractive reserve for improvement here." Which would not exist in this form were it not for the examplary collaboration of all involved. With the funding approved, the development plan well advanced, and the plan approval procedures for the relocation of the track completed, the train has gathered speed, heading to the future.
By Chris Löwer