With a festive ceremony yesterday, the foundation stone was laid for the new compassio senior citizens' residence on the site of the Salzmann industrial monument residential carreé in Kassel-Bettenhausen. The event not only marked the start of construction for the modern care site, but is also considered a symbolic first milestone for the development of the entire area into a new, lively residential quarter and focal point in the Bettenhausen district.
In the presence of Kassel's Lord Mayor Dr. Sven Schoeller and City Planning Councillor Simone Fedderke, the traditional time capsule was sunk into the foundation together with the other project participants by the client Cureus, the future operator for senior living and care services, compassio, and the company MBN as the general contractor for the new construction of the residence. In addition to the actual ceremony, the approximately 150 guests were also presented with in-depth information on newly emerging residential carreé and first insights into the construction site. Cureus itself acts as general contractor for the further construction phases. The new residential quarter is being built at Sandershäuser Straße 34 in 34123 Kassel (Hesse).
"With the development of the Salzmann site, a long-awaited future perspective is being realized for the city of Kassel. In the east of Kassel, a new and attractive chapter in urban development is thus being opened. The historic industrial monument will be preserved in a high-quality manner and at the same time living and quality of life will be created in the district that meets the needs of different population groups, especially older people and households with low incomes. We are very pleased about this," said Mayor Sven Schoeller and thanked the companies involved for the good cooperation.
"The revitalisation of the Salzmann site is a key project for Kassel's urban development," says Kassel's city planning councillor Simone Fedderke. "It is impressive to see how the balance between the preservation of our industrial heritage and the creation of modern, urgently needed living space can be achieved here. With the combination of renovation in accordance with monument requirements according to high energy standards and a wide range of socially subsidised housing through to inpatient care, we are sending a strong signal for an inclusive and lively Bettenhausen. This quarter will be a new anchor point for all generations in our city, not only architecturally, but above all socially."
"The ceremony illustrates the importance of the construction project for local urban planning: A living space is being created here that combines historical and modern architecture with social responsibility," says Roman Fabel Hansen, project manager of Cureus, adding: "Both the renovation of the listed factory and the first new building being built are currently going according to plan. The trades are working hand in hand on the extensive site, we hope that this will remain the case and are optimistic about the punctual completion of the first construction phases in the fourth quarter of 2027."
Uwe Frey, branch manager of MBN GmbH, which is responsible for the new construction of the senior citizens' residence as the general contractor, is optimistic about the ongoing new construction: "Once again, we are active in such a project according to the Cureus system approach. We can look back on many years of successful cooperation and are all the more pleased about this very special location with its historic charm. Now, after the successfully laid foundation stone, we will move to the building construction phase, so that you can then see the residence grow piece by piece."
Johannes Knake, CPO (Managing Director) at compassio, about the new location: "We are pleased to be part of this special residential quarter, which is now being built in Bettenhausen as a new social center. With our offer of full inpatient care in the retirement home and assisted living in the west wing of the former factory building, we are providing the city and the surrounding area with urgently needed capacities in the care and support of senior citizens. Of course, we will work according to our high quality standards, which focus on the well-being of the residents. But we also attach great importance to the well-being of our future team. More than 100 new, crisis-proof and modern jobs will be created in the areas of care, administration, building services and services."
Pascal Kleine, Managing Director of Pecuria, which is responsible for the sale of the residential and care apartments to private investors: "Since the end of 2025, the sale of the assisted living units still to be built in the west wing of the former factory building has already been underway. Buyers can benefit here from the fact that we have already secured loans at good interest rates of 1.66 percent from the KfW funding program 261 for them in advance, which can be transferred to them as part of the purchase. The monument depreciation of initially nine percent on the renovation costs is also particularly attractive for investors. Purchase prices start at around 215,000 euros. We also offer a unique offer: On the one hand, we offer a sustainable investment solution with new buildings built according to high KfW requirements or the listed building in this case also renovated accordingly. In addition, Pecuria's security against loss of rent, which is unique on the market, offers buyers security of income in economically turbulent times. And with our priority right of occupancy for a care place with one of our partners throughout Germany, the offer also includes an excellent social component for buyers. We have also just initiated sales preparations for the inpatient care apartments in the senior citizens' residence on the site. More information on this will follow in due course."
Modern compassio retirement home to be built in the south of the site
The U-shaped building of the senior citizens' residence is under construction from the beginning of 2026 to summer 2027 as a new building in four-storey construction according to the typical Cureus approach of the system care property. The general contractor for this construction phase is the company MBN GmbH.
A total of around 9,170 square metres of barrier-free gross floor space will be created in accordance with KfW's energy-saving Efficiency House 40 standard. Heating will be provided by the municipal district heating network and a photovoltaic system is planned on the green roof. With its linear and modern façade with generous glass elements and a coordinated colour scheme in white and light grey plaster tones, the house will fit perfectly into the surrounding buildings.
The operation and allocation of the care places will be taken over by the experienced operator compassio. In addition to long-term inpatient care, short-term and respite care will also be part of the offer at this location. The residence will create more than 100 full- and part-time jobs in the areas of nursing, administration, building services and services.
The senior citizens' residence will have 163 modern and spacious single rooms. 64 of the rooms are not only barrier-free, but also wheelchair accessible. All nursing rooms have their own shower room with toilet and, in addition to the nurse call system, telephone, internet and television connections. For a family and social togetherness, the rooms are divided into seven independently organized residential groups.
On the ground floor of the house, behind the friendly and hotel-like entrance area with reception and foyer, there is a library to linger in and a spacious residents' restaurant with its own kitchen and sun terrace. In addition, the property will have an in-house laundry for residents' laundry, a nursing and wellness bathroom as well as therapy and doctor's rooms, as well as a hairdresser and pedicure. Four bicycle parking spaces and 17 car parking spaces – six of which are handicapped accessible – are also planned with charging infrastructure facilities.
In 2026, the individual apartments for inpatient care from the senior citizens' residence will be sold individually to investors in accordance with the principle of a condominium via the sales partner Pecuria GmbH.
Renovation of the historic factory building for 96 units of social housing is underway
In the north wing of the five-storey former factory building along Sandershäuser Straße, around 5,930 square metres of socially subsidised housing for households with low and medium incomes is being built according to modern standards. Cureus itself is acting as general contractor for this construction phase, which is being carried out under monument protection requirements. Completion is expected in autumn 2027.
In the future, 96 bright apartments in sizes between 39 and 83 square meters are planned here. The newly built residential units will comprise one to three rooms and have a living-cooking area, a modern shower room, a hallway as well as storage rooms and a loggia. Elevators connect the floors next to the historic stairwells.
In the basement of the factory building, 33 parking spaces for motor vehicles, some of which are handicapped accessible and with devices for e-mobility, and 161 for bicycles are planned for this construction phase. In the future, access will be via Agathofstraße.
The apartments will later be rented out by the management company of the Lindhorst Group in cooperation with the municipal housing supply office of Kassel. Contact can be made by calling 05143 9810 0 or vermietung-aur@lindhorst-gruppe.de if you have any questions.
Assisted living and cultural areas in the factory building are still planned
The south-facing wing of the building on the west side of the factory will be converted into 96 units for assisted living suitable for the elderly and will then comprise a total of around 8,630 square metres of living and usable space. compassio will take over the rental of the apartments and the care of the residents after completion of construction. The individual apartments are planned with one or two rooms for living and sleeping as well as cooking facilities, barrier-free shower room, hallway, balcony or terrace and storage room in sizes between 33 and 67 square metres. The building and floor access is barrier-free and planned with elevators. The sale of the units via Pecuria is already underway. Buyers benefit from good interest rates of 1.66 percent from KfW's 261 funding program, which can be transferred to them as part of the purchase. In addition, the monument depreciation of initially nine percent on the renovation costs also applies to investors. Purchase prices start at around 215,000 euros. To the exposé...
The striking tower building at the eastern end of the north wing is being prepared for use as a cultural and commercial space. In the future, around 1,500 square metres of usable space will be available for this purpose. There is a close exchange with the city of Kassel on leasing and use.
On the lower ground floor of the entire factory building, 82 parking spaces are planned for motor vehicles, some of which are handicapped accessible and with devices for e-mobility, and 365 for bicycles. In the future, access will be via a newly planned access road that will lead into Agathofstraße.
The renovation of the west wing and the tower building will begin as soon as all the conditions for this have been met.
The renovation of the entire existing building will be carried out in accordance with the special energy standards of the KfW 55EE programme. New windows with a high degree of insulation will be installed and facades will be partially insulated on the inside. Heating is to be provided by the municipal district heating network. This will make the former factory building sustainable, climate-friendly.
In addition to the typical clinker brick facades, the generous window areas on the façades and the architecturally historically valuable skylight halls, which, contrary to earlier plans, will now be preserved in their entirety as cold rooms, the restoration and preservation of the factory building in accordance with the preservation of historical monuments also includes the special roofs themselves as well as the traditional advertising lettering "Salzmann & Comp." on the western gable side, which is distinctive for the area.
