Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft Glück Auf Gera eG

Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft „Glück Auf“ Gera eG is a German housing cooperative based in Gera, Thuringia. It was founded on 17 June 1956 by 64 young people, with Günther Thiel as its first chairman, under the name Arbeiterwohnungsbaugenossenschaft „Glück Auf“ Gera. Its founding sponsor was SDAG WISMUT. The cooperative was created to enable members and their families to build and obtain housing through their own initiative. Over the decades it grew substantially, especially through industrialised housing construction in the 1960s and 1970s, and by 1989 its housing stock reached 5,798 apartments. After German reunification, the cooperative adapted to a changing regional housing market characterised by population decline and an oversupply of housing. It sold and demolished more than 1,500 apartments, while also acquiring properties and carrying out extensive renovation and upgrading programmes, with a focus on barrier-reduced housing. In 2015 it merged with the Geraer Baugenossenschaft GWG e.G., founded in 1908, adding 610 apartments. As of 31 December 2020, the cooperative owned 3,912 apartments, as well as commercial units, garages and parking spaces, and had more than 4,200 members. The cooperative operates through a member-based structure. Its highest body is the representatives' assembly (Vertreterversammlung), whose at least 50 representatives are elected by members every five years. The representatives elect the supervisory board, chaired by Bernd Liebold. The supervisory board appoints the management board, whose members are Uwe Klinger (chairman) and Mathias Lack. The cooperative's office is located at Berliner Straße 5 in Gera. Beyond housing, the cooperative is the sole shareholder of „Glück Auf“ Wohnservice GmbH, which provides household-related services, caretaker services and winter services, and since 2012 it has been a shareholder of „Glück Auf“ Pflegeservice GmbH, an outpatient care service. It is also a member of the Initiative WIR in Gera, a cooperation of five housing cooperatives. The cooperative continues to invest in its stock, including the Wohnpark Berliner Straße (2011–2013) and the WeidenCarré new-build project started in 2021, its first new construction in Gera's largest district Lusan in 37 years.

The Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft „Glück Auf“ Gera eG was founded on 17 June 1956 by 64 young people as the Arbeiterwohnungsbaugenossenschaft „Glück Auf“ Gera. Günther Thiel was its first chairman. The founding sponsor was SDAG WISMUT. The aim was to create housing for members and their families through their own initiative. On joining, members had to contribute shares of 2,500 DM within five years and perform voluntary work hours in the first two years. In 1957 the first topping-out ceremony took place in Kurt-Keicher-Straße, and in 1958 the first 36 apartments were occupied. Further new-build projects followed in Herderstraße, Gagarinstraße and Berliner Straße. On 1 August 1958 the cooperative merged with the AWG „Glück Auf“, adding 144 members; by early 1959 it had 640 members. In the early 1960s the focus shifted to industrialised housing construction. Standardised designs such as the Q6 type enabled prefabrication of components in large numbers. Construction sites included Gera's city centre, the Bieblacher Hang and Debschwitz. In the 1970s, alongside the Wohngebiete „Südstraße“ (1972) and „Pskower Straße“ (1975), the main focus was on Lusan. The housing stock grew rapidly: by 1979 the cooperative had 4,036 apartments, 73 percent of which were centrally heated. Because state policy prioritised new construction, maintenance of older buildings was neglected in the 1980s, and the housing stock grew to 5,798 apartments by 1989. After the Wende, gradual rent increases allowed cost-covering management, but privatisation requirements to reduce old debts forced sales to owner-occupiers and to the newly founded Wohngenossenschaft „Neuer Weg“. Renovation and maintenance became central. Since 2000 the cooperative has adapted its stock to the regional housing market, which suffers from population decline and oversupply. More than 1,500 apartments were demolished and others sold, while acquisitions and extensive, often neighbourhood-based renovation and upgrading programmes were carried out. In recent years the focus has been on creating barrier-reduced apartments. The Wohnpark Berliner Straße was built between 2011 and 2013, including a community meeting place. In 2015 the cooperative merged with the Geraer Baugenossenschaft GWG e.G., founded in 1908, which had 610 apartments. In 2021 construction started on the WeidenCarré project, the cooperative's first new build in 37 years in Gera's largest district, Lusan. As of 31 December 2020, the cooperative owned 3,912 apartments, as well as commercial units, garages and parking spaces, and had more than 4,200 members. It is the sole shareholder of „Glück Auf“ Wohnservice GmbH, which provides household-related services, caretaker services and winter services to the cooperative and third parties. Since 2012 it has been a shareholder of „Glück Auf“ Pflegeservice GmbH, an outpatient care service that also serves members in senior living groups. The cooperative is a member of the Initiative WIR in Gera, a cooperation of five housing cooperatives that has existed since 2003 to reduce costs through joint gas and electricity purchasing and to train students in cooperation with the Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach. The highest body is the representatives' assembly, whose at least 50 representatives are elected every five years; they elect the supervisory board, chaired by Bernd Liebold, which appoints the management board consisting of Uwe Klinger (chairman) and Mathias Lack. The office is at Berliner Straße 5 in Gera.

• 2021

  Start of WeidenCarré new-build project, first new construction in Lusan in 37 years.

• 2015

  Merger with Geraer Baugenossenschaft GWG e.G. (founded 1908, 610 apartments).

• 2012

  Cooperative becomes shareholder of „Glück Auf“ Pflegeservice GmbH.

• 2011

  Construction of Wohnpark Berliner Straße begins (completed 2013).

• 2000

  Since 2000, stock adapted to regional market; over 1,500 apartments demolished and others sold.

• 1989

  Housing stock peaks at 5,798 apartments.

• 1979

  Housing stock reaches 4,036 apartments, 73% centrally heated.

• 1975

  Wohngebiet „Pskower Straße“ built.

• 1972

  Wohngebiet „Südstraße“ built.

• 1959

  Membership reaches 640.

• 1958

  First 36 apartments occupied; merger with AWG „Glück Auf“ on 1 August.

• 1957

  First topping-out ceremony in Kurt-Keicher-Straße.

• 1956

  Founded on 17 June by 64 young people as Arbeiterwohnungsbaugenossenschaft „Glück Auf“ Gera; Günther Thiel first chairman.

A member-oriented housing cooperative offering comfortable and modern living in Gera, with a focus on barrier-free and barrier-reduced apartments for all life situations.

• Rental apartments

  Around 4,000 apartments across Gera, including barrier-free and barrier-reduced units.

• Commercial units

  Commercial spaces owned by the cooperative.

• Garages and parking spaces

  Garages and parking spaces for rent.

• „Glück Auf“ Wohnservice GmbH services

  Household-related services, caretaker services and winter services.

• „Glück Auf“ Pflegeservice GmbH services

  Outpatient care and support, including in senior living groups.

1. 1WBG „Glück Auf“ Gera – Ihr Partner für modernes Wohnenglueckaufgera.de
2. 2Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft Glück Auf Gera – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft „Glück Auf“ Gera – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org