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Battle for allotments: Marzahn is planning a controversial residential area!
In Marzahn-Hellersdorf, 144 apartments are being built on former allotment gardens, which is leading to concerns among allotment gardeners.
Battle for allotments: Marzahn is planning a controversial residential area!
The city of Berlin is planning to build a new residential area on Klüsserather Weg in Marzahn on the site of a former allotment garden. This project includes a total of 144 apartments, with the majority of the new rental apartments being specifically intended for students. The local allotment gardeners are concerned because no replacement areas will be created for the lost garden areas. Critics are raising concerns about the progressive loss of allotment land in favor of new construction projects, while the need for housing in Berlin continues to be pressing.
The construction planning is divided into three construction areas. The first phase envisages the construction of six modern buildings, including four smaller apartment buildings and two larger residential buildings, which offer a total of 32 apartments. These are particularly designed for individuals and shared apartments. In the second phase, 16 buildings will be built, containing 62 units for different target groups, such as students, families and couples. The third section includes six buildings with a total of 50 residential units.
Approval process and nature conservation concerns
The building applications for all three construction sites were submitted on June 13, 2025 and are currently in the approval process. It is uncertain whether construction can begin as planned, as the nature conservation reports required for implementation are still pending. The site used to belong to Deutsche Bahn AG, but was sold to a private investor.
According to the land use plan, the area is already designated as residential building space, which underlines the legal basis for the construction. No changes to the existing land use plan are necessary to proceed with the project. Nevertheless, there is a lively political discussion about the loss of small-scale green structures in Berlin, even though the need for housing is increasing, especially for students.
Allotments as a valuable resource
There are around 71,000 allotment gardens in Berlin and make a significant contribution to the city's urban green structure. These gardens have grown historically and are considered an important cultural, ecological and social resource. The Berlin Senate pursues the goal of permanently securing allotment gardens in the city and therefore launched an allotment garden development plan (KEP) in the mid-2000s. The revision of the KEP is taking place against the background of demographic changes and urban restructuring.
The current events on Klüsserather Weg highlight the increasing conflict between housing construction and the preservation of green spaces in Berlin. In view of this, many citizens see the need to reconcile the interests of allotment gardening and the creation of living space.