The large open spaces of the government district, together with the historic buildings, characterize Mainz's government district. The government district is the political center of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

The design and use of the numerous city squares no longer do justice to their outstanding historical, functional, and urban structural significance. The public space lacks urban design quality and representative character.

The state capital of Mainz commissioned the administration to create the basis for an open space competition through comprehensive urban development planning.

The Government District Forum, which last met in 2009, was to be re-established and deal with the urban development of the government district with the participation of the citizenry.

Following the relocation of the Roman-Germanic Central Museum (RGZM), renovation work will begin on the Electoral Palace. The area surrounding the Electoral Palace is to be upgraded and linked across the Große Bleiche to the Rhineland-Palatinate State Parliament, Deutschhausplatz, and Platz der Mainzer Republik. 

In 2023, the state capital of Mainz initiated a new planning process for the government district of Rhineland-Palatinate with the aim of developing an urban development concept. The urban development concept is to include concrete measures that will give the government district its own identity, enhance public spaces, and improve the quality of life and living conditions. The aim is to strengthen climate resilience and increase biodiversity. The measures are intended to counteract the threat of climate change.

For the planning process, it was planned to revive the "Government District Forum" from 2009 in order to develop a broad discussion and a consensus among the urban community on the project. The forum met a total of three times. The closing event took place on September 20, 2023, at the Electoral Palace. In order to achieve a broad consensus within the urban community, the forum was supplemented by additional participation formats. Temporary actions and interventions took place at Ernst-Ludwig-Platz, the palace parking lot, and the workshop building (former RGZM).

The entire process was managed and supported by a steering group.

With the unanimous adoption of the recommendations, the Forum Regierungsviertel series of events came to an end with the meeting on September 20, 2023, in the Electoral Palace. Twenty-two individual recommendations set out the civic consensus as the basis for the future character and design of the government district of the state capital Mainz. The forum's recommendations were submitted to the political committees of the state capital Mainz for adoption on November 29, 2023. They form the basis for the further qualification process.

Participation steps:

Step 1 - I. Government District Forum 2023 – UPDATE

Step 2 – Broad citizen participation in person and online: Citizens have their say

Step 3 – II. Government District Forum 2023

Step 4 – Experience development: Actions and interventions in public spaces, night and safety walks for women and girls, school participation to identify the needs of children and young people

Step 5 – III. Government District Forum 2023 – Recommendations

Mainz Old Town (government district)

The Government District Forum 2023 began with the forum's first meeting on April 13 and ended with the last meeting on September 20, 2023. At this meeting, 22 recommendations for the city council were finalized.

Not all costs are available at this time. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a final figure.

The Government District Forum has been concluded with the recommendations from Forum III.

Department of Construction, Monument Preservation, and Culture
City Planning Office
Urban Planning Division
Christoph Rosenkranz (opens in a new tab) (Division Manager)