Future of the Goodyear area in Fulda: Industry or Living Space?

Future of the Goodyear area in Fulda: Industry or Living Space?

A shock for Fulda: The traditional Goodyear plant closes in the third quarter of 2025 and thus ends a 125-year era of the rubber industry in the city. The question that moves everyone: What happens to the huge terrain? The city administration agrees that the area must not remain unused. Mayor Dr. Heiko Wingenfeld (CDU) emphasizes that commercial use is of great importance for the Fulda business location.

Current talks run between Goodyear and the city to clarify the future use of the site. "We are determined to actively involve the local authorities in this process," explains Stephan Ester from the Goodyear press office. But the decision about the future of the area is a long time coming because the production will not be discontinued until the end of 2025. The city hopes for a quick clarification so as not to leave the development to chance.

city plans and speculated

In the recent meeting of the building committee, the Goodyear site became the subject. Dr. Thomas Bobke from the SPD/volt faction called for a change lock or a right of first refusal to secure urban planning. "This is a fillet area that we have to handle carefully," says Bobke. While some rely on industrial use in the city, others propose to use parts of the area for living space. City building council Daniel Schreiner, however, sees no need for a change lock because there is a valid development plan.

rumors about potential buyers of the site are circulating. The armaments group Rheinmetall has signaled interest, but denied current expansion plans in Fulda. Deutsche Bahn is also mentioned as a possible investor, but is covered. In addition, the future of the buildings is on the grounds in the suspension, since a test procedure is currently underway at the Hessian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments. Especially the administration building, designed by the renowned architect Paul Stohrer, could be made up of monument protection, which could influence the plans for reuse.