The social services provider GVS Blankenburg e. V. is developing the "Altes E-Werk" in Blankenburg (Harz) – the first project in the NEB_NETWORK Saxony-Anhalt not funded by the European Just Transition Fund (JTF). Unusual? Yes! Because until now, all NEB_PROJECTS in the area have been financed by JTF funds. The 'Altes E-Werk' project breaks this pattern. It is funded by the European Social Fund Plus in Saxony-Anhalt. Instead, the key factor for joining the network is that the project exemplifies the NEB_VALUES of beautiful, sustainable and together.
Together with the town of Blankenburg (Harz), the association is developing a usage concept for the industrial heritage site at Waldfriedstraße 1b, built in 1891. The building currently stands mainly unused, but is set to be brought back to life in future as an intergenerational ‘third place’ – a space for people to meet outside the contexts of work and home. From June 2025 to June 2027, workshops, dialogue sessions and public participation initiatives will be used to determine what services the urban community actually needs. Citizens, local cultural practitioners, the business community and universities from the region will pool their expertise in this process.
Rather than demolition and new construction, the project focuses on preserving the historic building substance, thereby securing the ‘grey energy’ already embodied in the structure. Energy-efficient refurbishment and comprehensive accessibility improvements combine the rugged charm of industrial architecture with modern requirements for climate protection and inclusion. A multifunctional, flexible use of space further reduces space consumption. Future operations are to be supported by a hybrid model: Commercial services will generate the funds for the non-profit areas through cross-subsidisation, thereby ensuring affordable access for the whole of the city’s community.
This example demonstrates that membership of the NEB_NETWORK Saxony-Anhalt does not depend on a specific source of funding, but rather on consistent alignment with the NEB_VALUES. Guidance on this is provided by the NEB_COMPASS. Other projects and initiatives in Saxony-Anhalt that fundamentally uphold these values can also contact the NX_NETWORKING OFFICE Saxony-Anhalt, regardless of their funding background, and benefit from the network.
More about the project on the project profile.
picture: GVS Blankenburg
