Döbling is planning a redesign: Obkirchergasse will become a popular center!

Döbling is planning a redesign: Obkirchergasse will become a popular center!

In the 19th district, Döbling, Obkirchergasse is to get a new look. The Greens are committed to redesigning the alley as a district center. One goal is to make Obkirchergasse a place where boutiques and bakeries can flourish, as well as the market to create a lively center. According to the Greens, initial plans and visualizations of this redesign are already in the works and will be put up for discussion at the upcoming district council meeting in December, as meinbezirk.at reports.

The remodel could begin next spring during planned pipe work. It is emphasized that through traffic should disappear from the alley. Instead, Obkirchergasse and Sonnbergplatz are to be transformed into a meeting zone that offers more space for pedestrians. A current study by the Chamber of Commerce supports these plans: More space for pedestrians could increase customer frequency and thus increase the attractiveness of the shops. Every million invested in shopping streets could generate up to 1.2 million euros in added value.

Improving local amenities and green space

The Greens see great potential in Obkirchergasse to improve local amenities in the district. The plans not only include new seating options, but also the desire for large, shady trees. No parking spaces will be taken away for shops; long-term parkers should move to surrounding streets. Collaboration with businesses and residents is the focus of planning in order to meet the needs of the population.

Another aspect that is important to the Greens is mobility in Döbling. Wider sidewalks and safer streets are planned. The focus should be less on cars and more on good pedestrian and cycling traffic. Maren Gröning, the top candidate of the Green Party, calls for 1,000 new trees to be planted by 2030 and the ground floor areas to be upgraded in order to revitalize the Grätzl, according to heute.at.

Political framework conditions

The Döbling district has around 75,400 inhabitants and is 24.9 square kilometers in size. In the last elections, the ÖVP came in first place. The SPÖ called for, among other things, affordable housing and more leisure opportunities, while the NEOS campaigned for the redesign of squares and the improvement of the transport infrastructure. The FPÖ has taken care of the renovation of dilapidated municipal buildings, and the Greens have made it clear that the traffic situation in the district urgently needs to be improved.

The upcoming redesign of Obkirchergasse could not only contribute to the revitalization of the center, but also significantly improve the quality of life of the residents. All parties in the district seem to be aware of the importance of sustainable mobility concepts and the creation of more attractive residential and commercial areas. The coming months could be decisive for how Döbling's face changes.