City Management & Retail

We promote neighbourhood development in Duisburg

City management and neighbourhood development play a crucial role in the transformation of cities. They are tools for the design and further development of city centres, districts and neighbourhoods to create liveable and sustainable environments for their residents and businesses. City management in Duisburg's city centre has been organised by DBI since 2021. In 2023, our team was strengthened so that we are now also more present with our work in the Duisburg districts.

Our HUB City Management & Neighbourhood Development works together with various stakeholders from retail, politics and administration to ensure that Duisburg develops into an exciting place to stay with an attractive city centre and lively secondary centres. In doing so, our team ensures that the various facets of neighbourhood development are considered and promoted holistically.

Our tasks include

  • Supporting retailers, traders and restaurateurs in their search for a location in Duisburg.
  • The procurement of vacant retail and gastronomy properties as well as the development and implementation of creative interim use concepts.
  • Ongoing information and advice for owners and users on current public funding programmes when expanding or relocating.
  • Strengthening stationary trade by advising on innovative trade concepts.
  • The development of concepts to make town centres more attractive and to increase the quality of stay.
  • The establishment of topic-related round tables in the city districts as well as the implementation of demand-oriented workshops with owners and users.

Our colleagues will be happy to support you in all areas related to city management, neighbourhood development and urban transformation in Duisburg. Get in touch with us!

Immediate program city center

Now also available for city districts!

The Anmietungsfond has now been extended to the districts of Ruhrort, Homberg and Rheinhausen.

The concentration areas in which the Anmietungsfonds can be applied are available when you download the application form

The initial situation

Our city centers are of particular importance for urban development. In order to strengthen the survival and preservation of our traditional city centers during and after the Corona crisis, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia has launched the Immediate City Center Program.

The structural change in the stationary retail trade, which has been the focus of attention for some time and which has been intensified by the Corona pandemic, urgently needs help! The increasing number of chain stores, the shift of shopping to online business and now also the pandemic are leading to more and more vacancies. The attractiveness of the centers is dwindling and a downward spiral may be set in motion.

The idea

The Downtown Immediate Action Program now gives new concepts the opportunity to settle in locations that were previously unaffordable for start-ups. In the direct city center!

Through a subsidized rent of up to 80% of the old rent, exciting retail concepts, pop-up stores, start-ups and restaurateurs or service providers can now rent in the vacancies. The eligible size of the retail space is limited to 300 m². The term of the project is limited until December 31, 2023.

The goal

We want to enable new and young concepts to try out locations that are otherwise unaffordable. The goal is to enable success and to be able to keep the entrepreneurs at the location even after the end of the Downtown Immediate Action Program. Another important goal is to reduce vacancies.

Application procedure & requirements

The application procedure

Applications can be submitted immediately. A jury decides who will move into the available stores and with which concept. It is also possible to combine several concepts - the eligible size of the store is limited to 300 m².

 

The requirements

  • It must not be a relocation of a business already located in the city center.
  • Only companies/individuals registered as businesses will be considered.
  • Preference will be given to concepts that increase foot traffic
  • Allowed are concepts

from the retail sector (also StartUps or PopUp-Stores)

Gastronomy concepts

Service concepts with public traffic

Farm stores (for the sale of regional agricultural products)

Showrooms (also for online concepts)

Cultural uses with public traffic (e.g. studios)

Concepts that promote civic and/or neighborhood involvement (e.g. RepairCafes)

Further future-oriented concepts