Lübecker Bauverein eG

Lübecker Bauverein eG is a housing cooperative (Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft) based in Lübeck, Germany, founded in 1892. It is the oldest housing company in the history of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. The cooperative traces its origins to a donation of 8,000 Marks by the Lübeck ship broker Heinrich Gaedertz to the "Gesellschaft zur Beförderung gemeinnütziger Tätigkeit" (Society for the Promotion of Charitable Activities), with the condition that the money be used to build affordable workers' housing. Together with the Industrieverein, the society used this as start-up capital for the cooperative, originally named "Lübecker Gemeinnütziger Bauverein eingetragene Genossenschaft". It was entered in the cooperative register on 3 June 1892 with 152 members. The cooperative's core business includes managing its own real estate portfolio, property management, project development (Bauträgergeschäft), and operating a savings facility (Spareinrichtung) where members' and their relatives' savings are managed similarly to a bank. As of 1 August 2026, the Lübecker Bauverein managed a total of 6,372 apartments, the majority in Lübeck, with additional housing areas in Nordwestmecklenburg and Ostholstein. Of these, 5,806 apartments are in its own portfolio and 566 are owned by third parties. The cooperative has approximately 10,300 members (as of 1 June 2026), 64 of whom serve on the representatives' assembly (Vertreterversammlung). The supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat), chaired by Steffen Börms, advises and monitors the management board (Vorstand), which is represented by Christine Koretzky and Stefan Probst. The cooperative positions itself as a provider of comfortable and affordable cooperative housing, emphasizing community solidarity and sustainability. It has developed a comprehensive sustainability strategy aligned with the German Sustainability Code (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitskodex, DNK), focusing on ecological, economic, and social aspects, with the specific goal of "providing housing at fair prices". The Lübecker Bauverein offers a customer portal with app ("mein LBV") for reporting damages and viewing contract data, and publishes a member magazine called "WIR!". Current new construction projects include "Wohnen in der Güldenen Straße" in Kücknitz, "Wohnquartier Franzhörn" in Stockelsdorf, "Wohnen am Geniner Ufer" in St. Jürgen, and "Wohnen am Falkendamm" with 28 owner-occupied apartments near the Kanaltrave with views of Lübeck's old town.

The history of the Lübecker Bauverein begins with the Lübeck ship broker Heinrich Gaedertz, who in 1892 donated 8,000 Marks to the "Gesellschaft zur Beförderung gemeinnütziger Tätigkeit" (Society for the Promotion of Charitable Activities) with the condition that the sum be used to build affordable workers' housing. This was the birth of the "Lübecker Gemeinnütziger Bauverein eingetragene Genossenschaft", the first housing company in the history of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. The cooperative was entered in the cooperative register on 3 June 1892 with 152 members. Its goal was to build housing at affordable rents for socially disadvantaged segments of the population. By seeking building land in close proximity to the workplaces of future residents, difficulties due to inadequate transport connections at the time were to be avoided; therefore proximity to the harbor, railway, and factory facilities was preferred. After a long search, construction began in 1893 on three residential buildings with a total of 15 apartments in Ludwigstraße in Lübeck-St. Lorenz-Nord, completed in summer 1894. In 1902, the Volksbrausebad (public shower bath) in Ludwigstraße was opened, a much-noticed signal for improved hygiene in the city. Between 1862 and 1910, Lübeck's population grew from 44,000 to around 116,000 due to industrialization, creating a severe housing shortage. By the early 1920s, the cooperative already had 298 apartments housing more than 1,000 people. In 1923 and 1924, prominent Lübeck Social Democrats founded another building cooperative, the "Bauverein Selbsthilfe", which despite the Great Depression built 169 settlement houses, 6 single-family houses, and 75 multi-story buildings with 634 apartments in St. Jürgen before both cooperatives were forcibly merged in 1940. The reason for the merger was the urban planning pursued by the Nazi regime, which aimed to consolidate smaller building cooperatives and associations into more efficient societies under the control of the NSDAP for the post-war period. After the end of World War II, Lübeck faced a severe housing shortage due to war destruction and refugees from eastern Germany. The population rose from about 190,000 in January 1945 to approximately 300,000 in January 1946, making Lübeck the city in northern Germany with the highest proportion of refugees. In July 1945, the later Lübeck mayor Otto Passarge took over the leadership of the cooperative again. Due to the poor economic situation, larger new construction measures were initially impossible. Improvement in financing for publicly subsidized housing came with the First Housing Act of 24 April 1950, which aimed at building 1.8 million apartments nationwide, supported by the Marshall Plan. By 1960, the Lübeck cooperative had 1,663 members and 1,544 apartments. In 1981/82, the cooperative acquired the entire works settlement from the bankruptcy estate of the former Metallhüttenwerke Lübeck, extensively modernized it, and offered it to tenants for purchase. In 1988, it took over 690 rental apartments from the financially troubled housing company "Neue Heimat Nord" into its own portfolio or management. In the early 1990s, another 346 apartments from a dissolved fund were added. After the German reunification, a need for around 7,000 new apartments emerged in Lübeck in the early 1990s. Through participation in two conversion projects, "Waldersee" and "Cambrai", the construction of a new residential quarter in Kücknitz/Herrenwyk, and expansion into Nordwestmecklenburg, the housing stock grew by another 1,450 apartments. From 1999, residential quarter renewal began in many districts of Lübeck. In a pilot project in Lübeck-St. Jürgen, the quarter around Robert-Koch-Straße saw the general modernization of 545 apartments; after demolition of a residential block with 254 apartments, a new building with 262 modern, family-friendly apartments was constructed. In 2012, the Bauverein also took over the management and rental of the traditional Wohnstifte Von-Borries-Stift and Heinrich-Gaedertz-Stift. As of 1 August 2026, the cooperative managed 6,372 apartments, with 5,806 in its own portfolio and 566 owned by third parties, primarily in Lübeck but also in Nordwestmecklenburg and Ostholstein. It has approximately 10,300 members (as of 1 June 2026). The cooperative continues to develop new construction projects and pursues a sustainability strategy aligned with the German Sustainability Code.

• 2026

  As of 1 August 2026, the cooperative manages 6,372 apartments and has approximately 10,300 members.

• 2012

  The cooperative takes over management and rental of the Von-Borries-Stift and Heinrich-Gaedertz-Stift.

• 1999

  Residential quarter renewal begins in many districts of Lübeck.

• 1990

  Another 346 apartments from a dissolved fund are added in the early 1990s.

• 1988

  The cooperative takes over 690 rental apartments from "Neue Heimat Nord".

• 1981

  The cooperative acquires the entire works settlement from the bankruptcy estate of Metallhüttenwerke Lübeck and modernizes it.

• 1960

  The cooperative has 1,663 members and 1,544 apartments.

• 1950

  The First Housing Act (I. Wohnungsbaugesetz) of 24 April improves financing for publicly subsidized housing.

• 1945

  Otto Passarge takes over leadership of the cooperative in July.

• 1940

  Both building cooperatives are forcibly merged under the Nazi regime.

• 1923

  The Bauverein Selbsthilfe is founded by prominent Lübeck Social Democrats.

• 1902

  The Volksbrausebad (public shower bath) in Ludwigstraße opens, a signal for improved hygiene.

• 1894

  The first 15 apartments are completed in summer.

• 1893

  Construction begins on three residential buildings with 15 apartments in Ludwigstraße, Lübeck-St. Lorenz-Nord.

• 1892

  Heinrich Gaedertz donates 8,000 Marks to the Gesellschaft zur Beförderung gemeinnütziger Tätigkeit for affordable workers' housing; the cooperative "Lübecker Gemeinnütziger Bauverein eingetragene Genossenschaft" is founded and entered in the cooperative register on 3 June with 152 members.

Affordable, community-oriented cooperative housing with a focus on sustainability and member solidarity.

• Cooperative rental apartments

  Affordable rental housing for members, primarily in Lübeck and surrounding areas.

• Spareinrichtung (savings facility)

  A savings facility where members' and their relatives' savings are managed similarly to a bank.

• mein LBV customer portal with app

  Online portal for reporting damages and viewing contract data and documents.

• WIR! member magazine

  Regular magazine for members with current information.

• New construction projects

  Current projects include Wohnen in der Güldenen Straße, Wohnquartier Franzhörn, Wohnen am Geniner Ufer, and Wohnen am Falkendamm.

1. 1Startseite - luebecker-bauverein.deluebecker-bauverein.de
2. 2Geschichte - luebecker-bauverein.deluebecker-bauverein.de
3. 3Nachhaltigkeit - luebecker-bauverein.deluebecker-bauverein.de
4. 4Lübecker Bauverein - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Lübecker Bauverein - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org