Alongside the port, Hamburg's city center is one of the city's identity-forming locations. The Binnenalster, Mönckebergstrasse, Jungfernstieg and the surrounding districts offer Hamburg's residents and visitors great spatial and structural diversity: there are green, quiet waterfront locations as well as lively, urban districts. Here people will find a mix of places to work, live, trade, culture and faith that has grown over the centuries, additionally the many striking public buildings also shape Hamburg's character.
The development of the city center has a prominent position in Hamburg's urban planning, which is why the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, together with the Ministry of Transport and Mobility Transition and the Ministry of the Interior and Sports, drew up an action plan for the further development of Hamburg's entire city center and presented it in 2020.
The aim of this action plan is to increase Hamburg's appeal and make it even more attractive. People should enjoy spending time here, shopping, finding exciting restaurants, working and living. It should be a good place for everyone, for people with disabilities, for families, for young people, for children, for people from different cultures and for people with higher and lower income.
To achieve this, more space will be created for pedestrians by gradually reducing stationary and moving traffic. New potential for the inner-city districts will be gained, the quality of life will increase, and a network of strolling spaces can be created. The unique public squares and bodies of water will be connected to HafenCity on foot, the walking route connections to the Inner Alster will be upgraded and the link to the Wallring and the adjacent districts will be redesigned.
The Senate has tackled numerous projects in the past legislative period, including
- Removal of motorized individual traffic from the Jungfernstieg.
- Partial relocation of bus traffic from Mönckebergstraße to Steinstraße
- Gradual further development of the public space in the Kontorhaus district, starting with a car-free Burchardplatz.
