Jena: Redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz – Public Participation Period Ending
The city of Jena reminds citizens that the online participation process for the planned redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz is entering its final phase.
Urban Planning
Jena: More apartments planned for the dotSource Campus
Jena, 06.08.2026 – The planned dotSource Campus on Saalbahnhofstraße is set to accommodate more residents than originally intended. A current amendment application proposes converting office space on the 4th and 5th floors into 48 additional residential units.
Jena: Felling of a healthy Ginkgo tree on Weigelstraße
The felling of a healthy Ginkgo tree in front of the former Goethe-Apotheke on Weigelstraße has drawn public attention. The municipal administration justifies the action by citing the planned conversion of the building into a bistro with outdoor seating.
Citizen Participation at Ernst-Abbe-Platz: Ideas for a Greener Campus Meeting Point Sought
Jena, June 16, 2026 – The redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz is entering its next phase: The city of Jena invites all citizens to actively participate in shaping the city’s central meeting point. During a second participation workshop, the winning design from the landscape architecture competition will be presented and further developed together.
Demographic Change in Jena: City Plans Reduction of up to 1,000 Daycare Spots
Due to a historic low in birth rates, the city of Jena is adjusting its childcare capacities. The new 2026/27 daycare requirement plan foresees a reduction of up to 1,000 spots by 2030, starting with the closure of the “Lichtenhainer Zwerge” kindergarten.
Heat Protection in Jena: Basin Location Requires Urgent Climate Adaptation
A current report highlights the significant need for Thuringian cities to catch up on heat protection. Jena, in particular, faces the urgent task of implementing effective measures against summer overheating due to its unique geographic location.
Surfing in the City: Parliamentary Group Calls for Feasibility Study of a “SaaleWelle”
The “Bürger für Jena” parliamentary group aims to enable surfing in the heart of the city. A new resolution submitted to the city council seeks to examine whether the construction of a so-called standing wave in the Saale is feasible.
Pedestrian Tracking in Jena: City Installs Laser Counters in the City Center
In the Jena city center, pedestrians and cyclists are now being recorded by modern Lidar sensors. The city is using the new counting systems to obtain a detailed picture of movement flows in the center.
14th City History Day: In the Footsteps of Jena’s Vanished Buildings
On March 14, 2026, Jena’s 14th City History Day invites the public to rediscover the city’s lost architectural heritage through lectures, tours, and workshops.
Housing Construction in Jena: City Administration “Tames” the Construction Turbo Paragraph
Jena aims for 5,000 new apartments by 2035 but faces slow progress. The city will use the federal “Bauturbo” law only under strict local guidelines to ensure quality urban development and focus on infill projects.