ProPotsdam

ProPotsdam is the municipal corporate group of the state capital Potsdam in Brandenburg, Germany, and the largest housing company in the city. Its origins lie in the gemeinnützige Wohn- und Baugesellschaft mbH (GEWOBA), founded in 1990, which was renamed ProPotsdam GmbH in 2006. Today the group operates as a holding umbrella over a family of municipal companies — the official website describes a corporate group of nine companies, while the 'at a glance' page and German Wikipedia speak of ten municipal companies — active in urban redevelopment, urban development, housing construction and housing welfare. With more than 18,000 rental apartments, ProPotsdam holds the largest housing stock on the Potsdam rental market and a local market share of roughly 20 percent. As a municipal housing company it is tasked with supplying broad sections of the population with housing, and it works in partnership with the city on socially compatible rents. Its responsibilities extend well beyond renting: through development companies such as Entwicklungsträger Bornstedter Feld GmbH, Entwicklungsträger Potsdam GmbH and Sanierungsträger Potsdam GmbH, it manages major projects that create new city districts such as Bornstedter Feld and Krampnitz and new quarters such as Neuer Markt / Plantage. It also operates public facilities on behalf of the city, including the Volkspark Potsdam, the Neuer Lustgarten, the Biosphäre Potsdam and the Sportpark Luftschiffhafen with its Olympiastützpunkt, and handles services for tourism and cultural marketing. The group's strategic orientation balances ecological, economic and social objectives. It pursues the city's 'Masterplan 100% Klimaschutz 2050' and a decarbonization strategy, aiming for a climate-neutral building stock before 2050 through 'ProKlima' energy-efficient refurbishment and a shift to green electricity and renewable energy. A flagship pilot is the transformation of the Drewitz prefabricated-housing estate into a low-emission garden city, carried out with the city and the municipal utilities. ProPotsdam is a founding member of the nationwide initiative 'Wohnen.2050' and a member of the 'EntrepreneursForFuture' business initiative. Social policy is central to the brand. Agreements with the city and the state of Brandenburg safeguard affordable housing, and the 'Potsdamer Modell' allows flexible allocation commitments across the company's stock. Bonus programmes such as the 'Kinder- und Familienbonus', the 'Wohnflächenbonus' for older tenants and the 'ProPotsdam-Bonus' allocation system introduced in 2022 support affordability and target groups such as students, trainees, people with disabilities and Potsdam residents at risk of displacement. Around 350 employees work at ProPotsdam locations. In 2024 the group reported a balance-sheet total of EUR 1,174 million and revenue of EUR 149 million. Managing directors are Jörn-Michael Westphal and Bert Nicke, and the supervisory board is chaired by Brigitte Meier, the city councillor for order, security, social affairs and health.

ProPotsdam traces its origin to the gemeinnützige Wohn- und Baugesellschaft mbH (GEWOBA), founded in 1990, in the period of German reunification when the city of Potsdam reorganized its municipal housing provision. In 2006 the company was renamed ProPotsdam GmbH, and over time it grew into a corporate group (Unternehmensverbund) that today unites municipal companies under a single holding umbrella. The official website describes a group of nine companies, while the 'at a glance' page and German Wikipedia refer to ten municipal companies. From its beginnings as a housing company, ProPotsdam expanded its remit into urban redevelopment, urban development and housing welfare. Through development and redevelopment entities — Entwicklungsträger Bornstedter Feld GmbH, Entwicklungsträger Potsdam GmbH and Sanierungsträger Potsdam GmbH — it took on major projects that created new city districts such as Bornstedter Feld and Krampnitz and new quarters such as Neuer Markt / Plantage. It also assumed responsibility for operating public facilities on behalf of the city, including the Volkspark Potsdam, the Neuer Lustgarten, the Biosphäre Potsdam and the Sportpark Luftschiffhafen with its Olympiastützpunkt, and for tourism and cultural marketing services. In 2019 the group founded Soziale Stadt ProPotsdam gGmbH to carry out neighbourhood work and neighbourhood management. Affordability has been a recurring theme. Faced with declining housing-promotion funding and expiring allocation commitments, ProPotsdam concluded agreements with the city and the state of Brandenburg in 2012 and 2013 to preserve affordable housing for low-income households. A key instrument was the 'Potsdamer Modell', developed by the city and ProPotsdam, which allows flexible allocation commitments across the company's entire housing stock. In 2012 the Potsdam city council also resolved a local 'Mietpreisbremse' (rent brake) for municipal apartments, limiting modernization surcharges and capping rent increases. ProPotsdam introduced bonus programmes such as the 'Kinder- und Familienbonus' and the 'Wohnflächenbonus' for older tenants downsizing. In 2022, on a resolution of the city council, the 'ProPotsdam-Bonus' introduced a new allocation system favouring groups such as Potsdam residents at risk of displacement, students and trainees, and people with disabilities or care needs. Environmental goals became increasingly prominent. ProPotsdam aligned itself with the city's 'Masterplan 100% Klimaschutz 2050' and a decarbonization strategy, pursuing a climate-neutral building stock before 2050 through 'ProKlima' energy-efficient refurbishment and a switch to green electricity and renewables. Its flagship pilot is the transformation of the Drewitz prefabricated-housing estate into a low-emission garden city, realized with the city and the municipal utilities and recognized with multiple awards. ProPotsdam is a founding member of the nationwide 'Wohnen.2050' initiative and a member of 'EntrepreneursForFuture'. In governance, Jörn-Michael Westphal and Bert Nicke serve as managing directors, and since 4 September 2019 Brigitte Meier, the city councillor for order, security, social affairs and health, has chaired the supervisory board. The group reported a 2024 balance-sheet total of EUR 1,174 million and revenue of EUR 149 million, with around 350 employees. It remains a member of the Arbeitskreis StadtSpuren, a coalition of social housing providers in Potsdam, and supports volunteering, social neighbourhood development and integration through sponsorship and programmes such as 'Potsdam! bekennt Farbe'.

• 2026

  Bauoffensive 2026 targets 600 new apartments; groundbreaking for 71 apartments in Golm; completion of refurbishment of 174 apartments in Gartenstadt Drewitz.

• 2024

  Group reports balance-sheet total of EUR 1,174 million and revenue of EUR 149 million.

• 2022

  'ProPotsdam-Bonus' allocation system introduced by city council resolution.

• 2019

  Soziale Stadt ProPotsdam gGmbH founded for neighbourhood work and management; Brigitte Meier becomes supervisory board chair on 4 September.

• 2018

  Start of the redesign of the Plantage into a playground, with ideas contributed by children.

• 2013

  Further agreements to secure social housing, supported by the 'Potsdamer Modell'.

• 2012

  Agreements with the city and the state of Brandenburg to preserve affordable housing; city council resolves a local rent brake for municipal apartments.

• 2006

  GEWOBA renamed ProPotsdam GmbH.

• 1990

  Gemeinnützige Wohn- und Baugesellschaft mbH (GEWOBA) founded, the origin of ProPotsdam.

Municipal housing and urban-development group; largest landlord in Potsdam, balancing ecological, economic and social objectives and providing socially compatible, affordable housing.

• Rental apartments (over 18,000)

• Social housing with rent and occupancy commitments

• Urban development projects (Bornstedter Feld, Krampnitz, Neuer Markt / Plantage)

• New residential construction (e.g. former tram depot Heinrich-Mann-Allee, Rote Kaserne West, Golm Eichenweg)

• Operation of public facilities (Biosphäre Potsdam, Volkspark Potsdam, Neuer Lustgarten, Sportpark Luftschiffhafen)

• ProPotsdam app for tenants and prospective tenants

• Corporate magazine EINSVIER

1. 1Willkommen auf unserer Homepage | ProPotsdampropotsdam.de
2. 2Über uns | ProPotsdampropotsdam.de
3. 3Pressemeldungen & Öffentlichkeitsarbeit | ProPotsdampropotsdam.de
4. 4Potsdams größtes Wohnungsunternehmen | ProPotsdampropotsdam.de
5. 5ProPotsdam – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
6. 6ProPotsdam – Wikidatawikidata.org