Here stands Bremer Höhe a testament to community and resilience. Imagine Berlin in late 1999. The tenants of Bremer Höhe received shocking news. The housing association WiP planned to sell their homes. It would all happen before the year’s end.
A wave of anxiety swept through the Bremer Höhe. On November 17th, 350 tenants gathered. They demanded a halt to the sale. They wanted time to create their own cooperative buying plan. It would include renovation and financing.
Despite public assurances, WiP sold Bremer Höhe on December 17th, 1999. Yet, WiP included a clause. If the tenants formed a registered cooperative and presented a plan by April 30th, 2000, the sale could be reversed.
On January 27th, 2000, 51 residents and supporters founded the “Bremer Höhe” eG cooperative. The impossible was achieved with political support. The race against time was won. The cooperative became the owner of 21 properties and 49 houses on May 1st, 2000. They replaced the private investor.
Bremer Höhe eG became a model. It inspired cooperative formations and financing. The cooperative also took on a renovation obligation. The buildings constructed between 1870 and 1913 were solid. They formed a good base for renovation.
Bremer Höhe’s location benefited all tenants. The Helmholtzplatz redevelopment area offered unbiased advice. Many tenants’ layout and equipment wishes were considered. The construction project was done in three phases from early 2001 to late 2003. Time and budget were met precisely.
Historical preservation was vital. Ecological and social aspects of the renovation were key. Today, all apartments are modern. Energy consumption is about half that of other renovated old buildings. Rents remain at or below the Berlin rent index average.
Before the renovation, Bremer Höhe had a high vacancy rate. 130 of 521 apartments were empty. This allowed many residents to relocate within the complex during the work. During the renovation, about 120 apartments were combined. This provided homes for families with children. The number of apartments went from 521 to 460. Twenty-two apartments were made senior-friendly and accessible. Courtyards were designed for community use.
In 2003, Bremer Höhe eG continued its commitment. It bought the formerly occupied Liebigstraße 15 in Friedrichshain. It was essentially on behalf of its residents. Members debated the cooperative’s future. Should they rest easy or help other projects?
Inner-city housing became more expensive. Political control waned in the 2000s. A large majority of cooperative members chose to be a cooperative umbrella. They would support new housing projects. This became central to their 2008 strategy paper.
The cooperative bought more properties. They acquired a residential complex in Lichtenberg in 2004. In 2006, they got a housing project in Schöneberg. In 2008, they bought a Wagenburg site in Friedrichshain. In 2009, they added the former Stadtgut Hobrechtsfelde in Panketal. In 2013, they included the Georg-von-Rauch-Haus. Finally in 2015, they bought the historical “Männersiechenhaus”. This completed the Bremer Höhe ensemble.
Today, Bremer Höhe eG has grown. It went from 470 residential and commercial units to 700. Expansion is a stated goal. The cooperative wants to continue its engagement.
Besides housing, the cooperative focuses on community. They promote neighborhood life. They support members’ initiatives. The quarterly newsletter details activities and developments. Bremer Höhe is more than just buildings. It embodies a community’s spirit. It is the will to shape its own destiny.