Co-operation Works: Housing Co-operative Ludwig-Frank in Mannheim, Germany
http://www.ica.coop/al-housing/articles/182/1/Co-operation-Works-Housing-Co-operative-Ludwig-Frank-in-Mannheim-Germany/Page1.html
Matt Baker
By Matt Baker
Published on 07/16/2008
The residents of 400 dwelling units in dilapidated blocks of flats in a vandalized run-down area, called “little Chicago” Mannheim, Germany, got together in 1990 to try to persuade the city council to abandon their plans to demolish and rebuild the blocks since this would dramatically increase their rent levels and was seen as a waste of resources since it would create no extra houses. To read on click here.
The situation was rather hopeless, but then the community was saved through the courage of cooperator Walter Pahl, who had been chairman of a traditional housing cooperative in Mannheim since 1947. A series of meetings was held with the residents, establishing the cooperative principles of self-help, self-administration and solidarity and in February 1990, a housing cooperative was formed. Against official expectations, residents were prepared to participate in the cooperative by contributing their own financial resources in the form of buying shares as well as providing voluntary service. At the end of 1992, 392 of the 400 residents were members. The remaining eight households participated in the joint work with the other residents but did not wish to establish membership. “Co-operation creates peace” adorned the walls of the Housing Cooperative Ludwig Frank and the project is still looking as brilliant as it was after the rehabilitation work in 1990-1991. The cooperative engaged in energy-efficieny and green measures to improve their housing situation.
Courses for young children of Turkish citizens and language courses for all age groups are organized. There are a lot of other activities available to and all coop members are proud to live there today. Walter Pahl is now 85 years old and has just written a book about the political life in Mannheim.
The project was also selected as Best Practice for the UN World Habitat II – Conference 1996 in Istanbul. It shows, what people in most difficult circumstances can achieve, once they are united in a housing cooperative and receive the necessary political support for improvement.
The Housing Cooperative Ludwig-Frank is an outstanding and innovative example of how a dilapidated residential area, housing a multi-cultural population from 15 different countries, can be transformed into an attractive and habitable district through cooperative self-help and solidarity. The project demonstrates that genuine renewal of an area cannot be achieved simply through technical improvements, but that social and cultural development is a key aspect of inner city renewal.
Courses for young children of Turkish citizens and language courses for all age groups are organized. There are a lot of other activities available to and all coop members are proud to live there today. Walter Pahl is now 85 years old and has just written a book about the political life in Mannheim.
The project was also selected as Best Practice for the UN World Habitat II – Conference 1996 in Istanbul. It shows, what people in most difficult circumstances can achieve, once they are united in a housing cooperative and receive the necessary political support for improvement.
The Housing Cooperative Ludwig-Frank is an outstanding and innovative example of how a dilapidated residential area, housing a multi-cultural population from 15 different countries, can be transformed into an attractive and habitable district through cooperative self-help and solidarity. The project demonstrates that genuine renewal of an area cannot be achieved simply through technical improvements, but that social and cultural development is a key aspect of inner city renewal.