On Thursday, 10 September 2026, Alexander Lindhorst of the Lindhorst Gruppe and Osnabrück's Lord Mayor Katharina Pötter officially kicked off the initial demolition work on the future site of the "Johannishöfe – Quarter at Neumarkt Osnabrück". The Lindhorst Gruppe is a family-run corporate group active in various business fields, including construction and real estate. Alexander Lindhorst personally initiated the demolition of the old car park on Große Rosenstraße in 49074 Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, using heavy machinery.
The project requires careful and successive inner-city development to relieve the traffic bottleneck at Osnabrück's most central square. Construction activities are also taking place in other areas by additional adjacent property owners. The Lindhorst Gruppe therefore plans further necessary demolitions on the remaining building plots for the beginning of 2027. The actual start of the quarter's redevelopment is scheduled for after the building permit has been received; the implementation of the overall project is expected to take three years. The building application is to be submitted in September 2026.
Lord Mayor Katharina Pötter highlighted the project's significant relevance for the city. She stated that the commencement of work marks a true turning point for Osnabrück's urban development and brings an end to a long period of patience at Neumarkt. She emphasised the successful cooperation with the Lindhorst Gruppe, which has paved the way for this forward-looking project. The "Johannishöfe" are intended to inject new energy into Neumarkt, revitalise the city centre, and create modern residential and commercial spaces.
Alexander Lindhorst expressed his delight at reaching this first milestone. He explained that the area south of Osnabrück's Neumarkt would now gradually and noticeably change. This is the result of focused work and the strong commitment of all involved parties. The cooperative and solution-oriented collaboration with the city administration, as well as the Lord Mayor's positive expectations, enabled the rapid development of Neumarkt. As the start of construction activities, a 220-metre-long open-air gallery was erected on the construction fence of the first building plot in July, adding a fresh splash of colour. For the future, Lindhorst envisioned a modern and sustainable urban quarter for Osnabrück, especially for its residents.
The Lindhorst Gruppe plans to develop up to 50,000 square metres of usable space on the approximately 1.54-hectare site, located between Neumarkt, Johannisstraße, Seminarstraße, and Große Rosenstraße. These areas are designated for various forms of living, including serviced accommodation, student flats, and accommodation for apprentices, as well as for commercial uses. The project falls within the scope of development plan No. 651 – Südlich Neumarkt.
The architectural design of the "Johannishöfe" is conceived as a closed block-edge development with courtyard architecture. This is intended to harmonise with Osnabrück's cityscape. Existing streetscapes will be retained in their course and enhanced through attractive new design; established path connections are to be incorporated and strengthened. The entire building ensemble will meet high energy standards. Currently, the project site predominantly contains vacant properties, such as the Kachelhaus, the former Wöhrl/Ypso department store, the Ihr-Platz-Haus, a car park, and other buildings.
