Construction Begins on Final Empty Plot on Heidestraße in Europacity

Vacant Gas Station Plot in Europacity Set for New Development

In the heart of Berlin's Europacity, a significant change is on the horizon. The plot of land located at Heidestraße 18, previously home to a Total gas station, now stands vacant, with new construction fences recently erected.

This plot is one of the last free plots in the Mitte Water City, a part of the larger Europacity development that includes residential and commercial spaces. The exact buyer of the property and the date of sale remain undisclosed, but it was purchased by the Hilpert Group from Würzburg in 2023, following ownership by Adler Real Estate AG.

Preparations for a new construction project have begun on the site, with initial construction machinery arriving. The building plan for the new development allows for mixed or purely commercial use, although the future building type on the plot has not yet been officially confirmed.

Rumors suggest that a hotel might be built on the plot, but there are no binding statements on this. Renderings of the project circulating on social media suggest a simple facade design, but official documents or a public presentation are still pending.

The development of the gas station site at Heidestraße 18 will fill one of the last gaps in the Europacity neighbourhood, which is expected to result in further densification on the edge of the inner city. However, not everyone is welcoming the change.

Critics have expressed concerns about the social composition, insufficient transport connections, and limited public green spaces in the Mitte Water City. Some residents have also criticised the quality of the planned architecture for the new project at Heidestraße 18.

In the past, critics have also raised concerns that Europacity is too strongly oriented towards investor interests and lacks a balanced urban development. These concerns persist as the start of construction at Heidestraße 18 marks the expected completion of the large-scale quarter development in the Europacity.

However, it remains unclear whether a hotel or another use will actually be built on the property at Heidestraße 18. The future of this plot in Europacity is yet to be revealed.

In 2019, 711 apartments and around 3,000 square meters of commercial space were completed in the Europacity, marking the ongoing development of this district in the heart of Berlin. As the city continues to grow and evolve, the plot at Heidestraße 18 promises to be an exciting addition to the urban landscape.