Offenbach's Kaufhof facade: 97% want historical preservation!

Offenbach's Kaufhof facade: 97% want historical preservation!

In Offenbach there is an overwhelming desire to preserve the historic facade of the former Kaufhof. A survey in the Facebook community “This is Offenbach” showed that 97.22 percent of the 1,544 participants voted to preserve the facade. Only 1.23 percent are against it, while 1.55 percent express no opinion. This survey, although not representative, shows the strong emotional attachment of citizens to this historic building. At the same time, the facade was partially opened on November 27th, with expert Dr. Anette Ritter-Höll examined the sandstone structures to assess their state of preservation. The city of Offenbach plans to convert the Kaufhof building into a learning and meeting center with a new city library, event rooms and retail space, such as offenbach.de reported.

Planned conversion to “Station Mitte”

The former Kaufhof building, which was acquired in January 2024 for around 13 million euros, is intended to become the central contact point for learning and culture in Offenbach. The total cost of the conversion was estimated at around 22 million euros, with a planned completion in 2026. While the survey provides a clear picture, the decision to preserve the historic facade remains complex. The city must consider the high cost of renovation and the technical feasibility, which could potentially influence public opinion, as it has already done of-news.de stated.

The citizens were pleased with the partial opening, which gave them a glimpse of the hidden splendor of the sandstone. Photo documentation is also created, which is included in the report that Dr. Ritter-Höll will create a report after her investigation. The condition of the facade and determining the extent to which it can be renovated will be of crucial importance for the further development of the project.