Alfred Vollmer Immobilien KG has been overseeing the letting of the former Rasspe site in Solingen, which is developing into the Change-Campus, for around three years. In this period, the Wuppertal-based brokerage firm has already secured two companies, Novotergum and Beckel Productions, for the location and successfully brokered their settlement. Negotiations for a third company, also introduced by Alfred Vollmer, are currently at an advanced stage.
Dario Dzamastagic, Managing Director of Alfred Vollmer Immobilien KG, emphasised the intensive engagement with the site since 2023. The focus is on the quality of brokering, by specifically approaching companies and bringing suitable users together with the owner. The settlements of Novotergum and Beckel Productions confirm the effectiveness of this approach. The brokerage service has already been provided for the next company.
Strategic location decisions in a demanding market
The current economic situation makes commercial lettings of this magnitude more challenging, as companies increasingly weigh up changing locations. A relocation is not merely a real estate issue for companies, but a strategic investment decision. Mr Dzamastagic points out that in economically challenging times, liquidity is conserved, expansions are sometimes postponed, and business models are subject to pressure for change. Companies experiencing disruptions in their own market initially focus on their core business.
Against this background, it is crucial that a new location offers a recognisable added value compared to the existing status quo. From Alfred Vollmer's perspective, locations with a distinct campus and cluster character are gaining importance, whereby not only the available space is decisive. An area needs a so-called 'pull factor' to be attractive.
- —Representative spaces
- —Competitive energy costs
- —Good accessibility from surrounding residential areas
- —Leisure and recreational facilities
- —Connection to motorways and main railway stations in the region
The settlement of several companies can itself contribute to the quality of a location and make an area more attractive for other users. Local economic development, represented by the team around Phil Derichs and Achim Willke in Solingen, plays a supportive role in this.
Quality and consistency in development
Mr Dzamastagic acknowledges the commitment of the economic development agency as well as the owner and investor Sven Heyden. Alfred Vollmer particularly highlights the quality of the already completed spaces, in addition to the long-term development of the area. He stresses that landlords and project developers in Solingen must meet high standards; outdated spaces without a cluster and pull factor are less successful. For initial tenancies after renovation, warm rents for commercially used spaces in Solingen range from 11 to a maximum of 18 EUR per square metre.
Sven Heyden has shown remarkably long-term perseverance in the development of the area, according to Dzamastagic. The completed spaces have been excellently prepared, with quality evident in every detail and a successful combination of historical industrial character and modern, representative business spaces. This facilitates the letting work, as the product must be convincing. A historical industrial area does not develop into a modern business location within a few months. This requires capital, patience, and the willingness to persevere even through longer development phases.
Alfred Vollmer Immobilien KG affirms its belief in the location and highlights how much effort now lies between the first company contact and a signature. The successful settlements of Novotergum and Beckel Productions, as well as the confident expectations regarding a third letting, underscore the success of this work. No details about the name or other aspects of the company currently under negotiation will be disclosed until the deal is finalised.
