In 2007, the building committee approved a redesign plan for Karmeliterplatz and the area surrounding the St. Christoph memorial. However, due to a lack of funding, the project could not be implemented. Thanks to a private donation, the immediate surroundings of the St. Christoph church ruins and the memorial were significantly upgraded in 2011 with the creation of an open space and a permanent exhibition. Only Karmeliterplatz and the adjacent streets and alleys remained unchanged.

The "Karmeliterplatz redesign" measure became part of the "IEK Innenstadt" (IEK city center) and was subsequently included in the "Aktive Stadtzentren" (active city centers) funding program. However, with the changes in the overall financial situation of the city of Mainz, urban development funding by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate ended in 2022, and with it the eligibility of the "Karmeliterplatz redesign" project as an urban development measure within the federal-state program "Active City Centers."

Due to its significant inner-city location, Karmeliterplatz is a strategic and prominent hub and networking point for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. It is important to strengthen this important function, continue the developments at the square, and pursue the goals of the former funding measure, which was to connect the city center and the banks of the Rhine via Karmeliterplatz and Brückenplatz. For this reason, the city council decided at its meeting on November 30, 2022, to initiate the planning and public consultation process and to develop urban planning framework conditions with public participation in order to hold a competition for the area around Karmeliterplatz, Christofsstraße, Mitternachtsgasse, Christofsgässchen, Hintere Christofsgasse, Karmeliterstraße, and Brückenplatz.

The aim of the measure is to optimize the quality of the area for visitors and users and to significantly improve connectivity by modernizing the surfaces and implementing various redesign measures in the public space. Last but not least, the project can make a significant contribution to currently essential issues such as climate protection, biodiversity, accessibility, unsealing, etc. through various measures.

At the beginning of 2023, a selected planning office conducted a commissioned feasibility study on Brückenplatz. The study was intended to examine which measures could be taken to improve the urban development of the city edge. Based on urban development analyses, possible structural or other measures in the area of Brückenplatz were to be examined that could be used in the sense of sensible urban repair.

Public participation is planned during the preparation of the framework plan in order to gather ideas. A precise schedule has not yet been finalized. The following steps are planned in detail:

1. Development of the urban planning framework (framework plan);
2. Public participation;
3. Coordination and involvement of the relevant departments;
4. Political decision on the framework plan;
5. Preparation and subsequent implementation of the competition process.

Mainz Old Town

Once the draft framework plan has been drawn up, public participation will take place. It is not currently possible to set a date for this, but the next step will be implemented as soon as possible.

The "Karmeliterplatz Redevelopment" project was considered a funded project under the federal-state "Active City Centers" program until the Rhineland-Palatinate state government cut urban development funding in 2022. In 2021, the costs were estimated at approximately 8,237 square meters x 300 euros = 2,471,100 euros based on the framework conditions for possible funding and were included in the 2023/2024 budget.

The basis for drawing up a framework plan is currently being determined. The framework plan will serve as preparation for a competition for the Karmeliterplatz and Brückenplatz area. The necessary planning costs will be included in the 2025 budget.

Department VI - Construction, Monument Preservation, and Culture
City Planning Office (61) City Planning
Division
Christoph Rosenkranz (Division Manager)