Aldi Nord plans to build up to 2,000 apartments in Berlin over the next few years.
The plots on which the planned apartments are to be built are in the city center and centrally located and Aldi markets are already located there. These are to be demolished, rebuilt and supplemented by multi-story blocks of flats. The appearance on the sketches is simple but modern and what is very typical for the discounter: The rents of the apartments should be of course affordable.
Berlin is growing rapidly: By 2030, the population is expected to increase by another 300,000 inhabitants. One way to meet the growing demand for housing could be to densify residential development in the city center.
The project of the discounter meets with great enthusiasm, since the apartments are to be rented at comparatively low prices. A social housing share of 30 percent with a net cold rent of 6.50 euros per square meter is planned. The net cold rent of the other apartments should cost a maximum of ten euros per square meter.
The first building will be built in the district of Lichtenberg with around 50 apartments and could even be completed during next year.
Another project is planned in Berlin-Neukölln with also 50 residential units.
A further 15 locations are in concrete planning, so that a total of 2,000 apartments in Berlin on around 30 discount stores are possible.
Almost all new buildings will be located within the S-Bahn ring, which is an insurmountable price limit for many apartment seekers in Berlin. Within this zone, other private landlords barely offer apartments for less than twelve or even 14 euros.
In principle, it is possible that such projects are implemented in other cities, but for this the population would have to increase significantly. This condition is not given, for example, in the Ruhr area at the moment. In Hamburg, however, the situation is different and Munich has already completed a pilot project for Aldi Süd.