As part of the "Innenstadt-Impulse" funding program of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the state capital of Mainz is currently implementing the project "Rethinking Neighborhoods of the Future." Using the "Citymeile" neighborhood as a case study, the project is exploring how an inner-city neighborhood can be made even more vibrant and attractive in the future. Together with partners from the city administration, Mainz University of Applied Sciences, and the neighborhood itself, ideas are being developed to improve the quality of life, enable new uses, and strengthen the neighborhood’s identity. Some of these ideas will be tested directly on-site to see what works well. The results may later prove useful for other areas of the city center as well.

To gather initial feedback on the use and perception of the "Citymeile" neighborhood, an online survey (opens in a new tab) will be conducted from April 1, 2026, to April 20, 2026 (see also "Further Information").

As the project progresses, students from Mainz University of Applied Sciences will develop ideas for potential initiatives in the neighborhood. Selected approaches will then be implemented on a trial basis and presented to the public as part of a neighborhood event.

Mainz Old Town

• The project process began in March 2026.
• An online survey to gauge public opinion will take place from April 1, 2026, to April 20, 2026.
• In the spring and summer of 2026, students at Mainz University of Applied Sciences will develop ideas as part of a university course.
• This will be followed in the summer of 2026 by the selection of suitable approaches from this pool of ideas.
• Initial pilot measures will be prepared in the fall of 2026.
• In 2027, selected measures will be implemented in the "Citymeile" neighborhood.

As part of the "Innenstadt-Impulse" funding program of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, 100,000 euros have been allocated to the project. Of this amount, the city administration must contribute 10%, or 10,000 euros, from its own funds.

The project has been launched, and the call for proposals to select an agency to support the process was successfully completed. A kick-off workshop involving residents of the neighborhood, city officials, and Mainz University of Applied Sciences has already taken place. An online survey on the "Citymeile" neighborhood will run from April 1, 2026, to April 20, 2026. During the summer semester, students at Mainz University of Applied Sciences will develop initial ideas for the future development of the neighborhood as part of a course.