Astoria Garage in Josefstadt: Reopening brings 300 parking spaces!

Astoria Garage in Josefstadt: Reopening brings 300 parking spaces!

Amid the ongoing parking shortage in Josefstadt, which has been particularly exacerbated by the closure of the Astoria garage, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. The new owner, Jürgen Hesz, plans to reopen the old garage at Trautsongasse 4 before Christmas 2025. This garage, which was built in 1923 and is considered the oldest and largest daylight garage in Europe, is being renovated with a lot of love and investments of between 25 and 30 million euros. Hesz has clear ideas: “I want to preserve the original substance and modernize it at the same time,” says the entrepreneur, who took over the garage in March 2025.

The closure of the Astoria Garage in June 2024 led to the loss of around 300 parking spaces, which further worsened the already tense parking situation in the area. Several construction sites and high parking fees do the rest. Already in the summer, residents reported that they had difficulty finding a free parking space. Critics such as FPÖ club chairman Maximilian Krauss blame the closure of the garage for the parking shortage and call for a holistic traffic concept that takes all road users into account, according to 5min.at and the Residents are curious to see whether district leader Fabisch can present solutions.

Reopening with modern accents

Between 250 and 300 parking spaces are planned for the reopening, which will also be equipped with electric charging stations. This is an important step in meeting the needs of today's car users. Hesz is also negotiating a long-term rental agreement with a garage operator or is planning to take over the business himself. The entrepreneur is not only a visionary for the parking space, but also culturally active. Discussions with art and cultural institutions should lead to the garage becoming a more diverse place.

The current situation, in which the garage is used as a film location for a film production, shows that the old structure still has a lot of potential. It remains exciting to see whether Hesz can implement his concept and what further developments the ongoing parking shortage will bring with it.

Long-term urban development and parking space reduction

kosmo.at. The aim is to reduce the number of private vehicles per thousand inhabitants to 250 and to promote the 15-minute city, where short distances and mixed use are paramount.

It remains to be seen whether the return of the Astoria Garage can be a sufficient solution to the parking problem. One thing is clear, however: something is happening in Josefstadt, and hopes for an improvement in the parking situation are tangible after the long months of uncertainty.