Nisselgasse: Redesign causes chaos and loss of sales!

Nisselgasse: Redesign causes chaos and loss of sales!

In the Penzing district, the redesign of Nisselgasse is causing excitement and mixed feelings. The aim of these renovations, carried out in 2023, was to create more green spaces and reduce traffic. What was well thought out in principle, however, brought with it some unexpected problems. The sales of the local shops suffer significantly. For example, a businessman at Cutlery complained that customers were having difficulty reaching his store, resulting in a drop in sales of up to 30% since the renovation was completed. Similar complaints can be heard from various business owners who criticize the lack of consideration of their needs in planning. The blossoming young trees and flowers in Nisselgasse do their part to make the alley visually appealing, while the economic development of the businesses in the area suffers.
Courier reports that the redesign should actually be beneficial for everyone, but instead the traffic-related problems are still present.

A central problem is the lack of loading zones and the difficulties in delivering goods, especially for pharmacies. Suppliers are finding it difficult to deliver their products due to limited space, making life even more difficult for business owners. The possibility to stop at the nearby bus stop is currently blocked by a construction site and will only be restored once it is completed. The district administration and district leader Michaela Schüchner (SPÖ) have already initiated discussions about creating new loading zones, while at the same time residents' complaints about the traffic, which is characterized by cars, buses and fire department exits, are becoming louder. The police have announced that they will control speeding more strictly, as the maximum speed limit of 20 km/h is often exceeded.

Green ideas for Nisselgasse

The Penzing Greens have now submitted proposals for so-called Grätzell loading zones. They believe that this measure could help solve the problem of the lack of delivery options and at the same time relieve traffic in Nisselgasse. However, the application for a loading zone must currently be submitted to the MA 46 for traffic organization, which often encounters difficulties. Several applications from business owners have been rejected and the situation looks particularly tense for pharmacies.

In summary, it can be said that the redevelopment of Nisselgasse pursued many positive approaches, but encountered major practical difficulties. The decline in sales and the problems in reaching stores are putting local companies under pressure. MyDistrict mentions that public participation was given great importance during the planning, but the current reality is different. The exact implementation and the complaints from business owners require quick action now.

District leader Schüchner remains optimistic: “I have currently not received any new complaints about Nisselgasse and I encourage residents to get in touch if there is a need for improvement.” Meanwhile, reports on the problem report that a new traffic evaluation is already being planned, which will be started by the beginning of 2025 after the Alt-Penzing traffic concept has been completed.

Considering the experiences from other cities and their approaches to introducing meeting areas, conclusions could be drawn from these. As certain projects in Germany have shown with negative or positive consequences, it remains to be hoped that Nisselgasse will ultimately find a solution that meets the needs of both residents and local businesses. According to further reports from the Research information system Multi-layered measures to improve meeting areas are ultimately crucial in order to sustainably increase the quality of life.