Key Facts
- Location: Steubenstraße, Jena-Nord (former university buildings).
- Plan: Purchase and renovation by a private initiative.
- Target Group: A diverse mix of families and individuals.
- Concept: Self-management and long-term rental model instead of classic ownership.
Jena-Nord, 09.02.2026 – In Jena’s strained housing market, any initiative that creates new living space or saves existing structures from decay is welcome. In Jena-Nord, attention is now turning to two vacant buildings on Steubenstraße. Where people once studied and worked, a vibrant, self-managed residential quarter is soon to emerge.
From Vacancy to Living Space
The two former buildings of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität on Steubenstraße are currently empty. For a group of dedicated citizens – consisting of families, couples, and individuals – this represents a unique opportunity. They have joined forces to acquire and fundamentally renovate the properties. The goal is ambitious: in a city where affordable housing is a rare commodity, they want to realize their dream of communal living.
In Jena-Nord, a district that stands out for its good connections and proximity to both the center and nature, such properties are rare. Converting functional buildings into housing is often a sensible urban planning measure to avoid land sealing and to revitalize existing neighborhoods.
The Model: Buying to Remain Tenants
The special feature of the project is the intended usage model. The group is not planning a classic purchase of condominiums for individual asset building. Instead, the motto is: buy the house to live in it as a tenant. Such models, often organized as cooperatives or within the framework of the Mietshäuser Syndikat, aim to remove properties from the speculative market.
By keeping the house in the possession of a company managed by the residents themselves, rents can be kept stable in the long term. Rent increases then serve not the returns of external investors, but only maintenance and loan repayments. For many Jena residents, this is the only chance in the current market for long-term secure and self-determined living.
Creative Financing Against High Costs
However, renovating old university buildings is no easy feat. In addition to the purchase price, construction costs are a major factor. To keep rents truly affordable later on, the group relies on a special financing concept. Direct loans from supporters, a high degree of personal contribution during renovation, and a solidary economy often play a role here.
If the project succeeds, a lighthouse project for alternative living in Jena could emerge on Steubenstraße. It shows that citizen initiatives can be an answer to the housing crisis – with creativity, community spirit, and the courage to fill old walls with new life.
Outlook
The project is still in its early stages. The renovation will take time and effort, but the social added value for the Jena-Nord district is already foreseeable. When empty hallways become living rooms, the entire city wins.