Special fund StadtLand

The issue of land became a focal point for IBA Thuringia from the outset, primarily to address vacancies. In 2014, IBA nominated the concept of a "revolving settlement fund" as a candidate. This involved consolidating empty houses and vacant lots regionally through a governmental or non-profit development corporation, intending to actively integrate these areas into urban and rural development processes. The proceeds would have been reinvested in purchasing or temporarily acquiring additional properties. The principle of robust regional land management as an active structural policy gained support from many advocates during the 2016 IBA expert workshop. However, the specific scope of tasks, legal framework, and financing for such a fund remained unresolved. Numerous aspects and existing institutions were affected, with little political will or commitment articulated in the regional administration at that time. Nevertheless, the idea and connections from these discussions persisted. Subsequently, IBA established the special fund StadtLand Thuringia with the trias Foundation—a non-profit foundation focusing on land, ecology, and housing. Founded in 2002, this civic foundation, representing the triad of land, ecology, and housing, acts as the property owner. When Haus Bräutigam e.V. took over the  Sommerfrische Haus Bräutigamproject and sought community-oriented partners, momentum began to build. The association acquired the property through a land lease agreement. The interest generated, after deducting administrative costs, is reinvested into new projects in Thuringia. The IBA and the users build upon the trias Foundation's extensive experience and contract management, ensuring sustainability beyond the IBA's duration. 

 

While Haus Bräutigam was offered by private hands, in the case of the second house in Döschnitz, another project of IBA Thuringia, it was the municipality seeking a new owner. In both cases, the goal was to prevent speculation and find a reliable, long-term partner for project development and use. The nonprofit special fund remains open to further projects in Thuringia. However, a prerequisite is a long-term usage perspective ensuring the refinancing of acquisition costs and asset maintenance. Both residential and commercial uses are suitable for financing renovations. The offer to transfer properties to the special fund StadtLand Thuringia as eternal, nonprofit foundation-owned assets is aimed at owners of vacant or underutilized properties, as well as project initiatives and groups in Thuringia that view land as a common good and seek long-term, sustainable usage at predictable conditions. In doing so, they become part of a supportive network of house projects, neighborhood, and village initiatives. Within the special fund StadtLand Thuringia, there's potential for knowledge exchange, consulting, and, if there are corresponding profits, financial support for new projects. 

 

The question of whether land is better managed by private individuals, the state, municipalities, or a civic foundation can only be answered based on the respective attitudes, goals, and activities of the landowners. Vacancy, speculation, decay, and demolition fail to do justice to the valuable, non-reproducible resource of land and its potential for climate- and socially-just regional development. With the special fund StadtLand Thuringia at the trias Foundation, the IBA has established a tool for forming nonprofit land ownership with the aim of activating vacant spaces, supporting new users, and empowering communities. The IBA is thereby providing an impulse for a regional culture of renovation and active land policy that consistently focuses on sustainability and the common good.