Jena approves decommissioning of garage complex for renaturation

The Jena City Council has approved the climate-oriented decommissioning of the ‘Im Wehrigt-Süd’ garage complex in the Lobeda district. The project involves removing 38 garages and their sealed access roads to facilitate full renaturation of the area.

As part of Jena’s climate adaptation strategy, the site will be converted into an unsealed green space without new paths or paved surfaces. This initiative aims to improve water retention during heavy rainfall, mitigate heat stress, and strengthen the local urban climate. Because the area is located in the Saale flood zone, the de-sealing process will create additional natural retention areas to help manage flood risks.

The city acquired the site in 2025. Many of the garages had been unused for years and were in poor structural condition. Dirk Lange, the Councilor for Urban Development and the Environment, stated that the project demonstrates how climate adaptation and sustainable urban development can be effectively integrated.