INIK Strategy:
The goal of the strategy "Factory Building Looking for Private Owners and Users" is to create a private-property model in industrial buildings protected by monument preservation laws in the center of Cottbus. Therefore the old factory and administrative buildings of the Smyrna Carpet Factory would undergo an exemplary change of use to become new work and living spaces. The departure point of this endeavor will be the self-direction (self-organization) of the future owners and users and a dismissal of builder-financing structures. The owner/user-strategy will be supported by the initiative “Stadtwohnen Cottbus” (www.wohneigentum-cottbus.de).

Background:
The buildings, which have not been used since 1993, are situated west of the historic center of Cottbus within the assigned renovation area “Modelstadt Cottbus-Innenstadt.” Currently owned by the TLG Real Estate Company (TLG Immobilien GmbH), the buildings form the entrance to the western part of the city through their exposed location and architectural design. The conditions for developing the buildings are generally good, aside from the unclear interests of the present owner.