To make Wolfsburg even livelier, more inviting and more attractive for its citizens and guests, the city of Wolfsburg is setting aside a special budget of 550,000 euros for both 2025 and 2026. Following an expert review, these funds will be used to prepare and implement proposals such as a safety concept with retractable bollards and more pleasant lighting, more greenery and a drinking fountain in northern Porschestraße, a disposition fund to financially support private commitment, a selfie photo point and experiencing the urban development of tomorrow through augmented reality. Together with the measures that have already been completed, are currently being implemented or are planned using the city budget, subsidies or private investment, they form the City-Sofort program.

"We are making targeted investments in the future of our city center. By upgrading our city center, we are not only creating attractive places to spend time, but also strengthening retail, gastronomy and social interaction. Wolfsburg should be a place where people enjoy spending time - today and in the future," emphasizes Lord Mayor Dennis Weilmann.

"Forward-looking urban planning ensures liveable neighborhoods and attractive public urban spaces. With the proposed measures, we are increasing the quality of stay and making our city center fit for climate change," says First City Councillor and City Planning Councillor Kai-Uwe Hirschheide.

Jens Hofschröer, Head of Digital and Economic Affairs, sees the investments as a decisive economic factor: "An attractive city center is the heart of a city. A joint, determined commitment, the implementation of immediate measures and investments are essential for an attractive city center. As Managing Director of Wolfsburg Wirtschaft und Marketing GmbH (WMG), he also refers to the varied program of events: "Our events create additional occasions for the whole family and make an important contribution to our common goal of getting more people to spend more time in the city centre again."

City center development is one of Wolfsburg's future topics. In order to upgrade the city center, projects have already been completed, are being implemented or are in the planning stage in many places between the north and south ends. Areas throughout the city center have been unsealed and mobile greenery and additional street furniture have been installed. A pop-up playground was set up at Nordkopf. Further measures such as a 3x3 basketball court, a boulder block and bouncy games will soon be added in Porschestraße. These measures are being financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the Resilient City Centers funding programme.

With the start of construction of the Medical Office by the Vespermann Real Estate Group as the first visible sign of the development of the Nordkopfquartier Mitte, the appearance of the city center is already changing. Construction of the BRAWO Arkaden is due to start this year, and intensive planning is underway for the development of BRAWO City and the redesign of Kleistpark and Rathausplatz. Taken together, all of these measures will significantly change the face of Porschestraße in the future.