A political balancing act
On one hand, there is the call for more affordable housing, on the other hand, there is a shortage of building land and priority is given to protecting the hillside locations with the fresh air system that is so important for the urban climate. It is precisely the green slopes and nearby deciduous forests that make many residential areas in Heslach so attractive. A solution to this construction planning dilemma seems most likely to be found in the use of gaps between buildings and the conversion of brownfield sites (e.g. abandoned company premises) into building land.
Socially responsible urban development is reflected in the proportion of affordable rental apartments. Stuttgart has a considerable shortage of this! As a result, social housing construction is once again becoming the focus of public interest. The only way to implement a social housing policy is to go against market logic and, first and foremost, prevent speculation on rent increases and the associated returns. Likewise, social housing should not suddenly be rented out at normal market prices after the end of the subsidy phase. It would also have to be prevented that tenants are repeatedly confronted with the modernization levies for energy-efficient refurbishments almost unprotected.
Urban planning should always be based on the wishes of the citizens. That means less soulless office projects and shopping centers with concrete parking lots and more preservation and maintenance of historic buildings that make up the face and quality of life of a city.
Urban planning is concerned with urban development, taking into account spatial and social structures. To meet this constantly changing challenge, various concepts and strategies are being developed for the state capital. The demands on a city are changing as society changes. Moreover, Stuttgart is increasingly focusing on sustainable urban development. It is important for urban planning to find a way to unite private and public interests. This is one of the central tasks of Stuttgarter Wohnungs- und Städtebaugesellschaft (SWSG).