08.12.2025

Industrial monument Salzmann in Bettenhausen – Cureus begins renovation of factory building, new construction of senior residence to start in January 2026

• Renovation begins on historic factory building for 96 social housing units
• Renovation in accordance with heritage protection requirements and KfW 55 EE standard, with completion planned for autumn 2027
• Compassio senior residence to be built as a new building with 163 places for full-time inpatient care as well as short-term and respite care from January 2026
• New building in accordance with KfW 40 standard, with completion planned for summer 2027
• A new, vibrant centre for all generations is being created in Bettenhausen
• Residential, care, small businesses, supermarket, restaurants, cultural facilities and areas for leisure and recreation are planned for the site
• Investment of up to Euro 100 million planned for the entire project

Hamburg/Hannover/Kassel-Bettenhausen, 8 December 2025. Cureus is now starting renovation work on the first wing of the historic factory building on the site of the Salzmann industrial monument in Kassel-Bettenhausen. 96 units for socially subsidised housing will be built here. From January 2026, construction of a new senior residence for the operator compassio Seniorenresidenzen will follow on the site. The buildings will be located at Sandershäuser Straße 34 in 34123 Kassel (Hesse).

‘Things are really taking off now on the site of the former Salzmann industrial estate in Kassel-Bettenhausen. The demolition of old buildings that are not listed as historic monuments and the preparatory construction work on the ground were completed on the extensive site before the onset of winter, so that we can now start renovating the first wing of the listed factory building as planned in calendary autumn 2025,’ says Roman Fabel, project manager at Cureus, happily. He adds: ‘The first step will be to gut the wing of the building. This will be followed by the renovation of the supporting structure, so that we can then get started on the interior work on all floors at full speed. We are creating a completely new floor plan for the planned apartments. Construction of the new retirement home will then follow quickly.We are optimistic that we will get the green light in January 2026 and will be able to start construction of the residence. From then on, urgently needed care places and equally important socially subsidised housing will be created in the region.’

‘We are delighted that construction has begun on the Salzmann site. The development and use of the Salzmann site ends decades of stagnation and marks a milestone in the development of the eastern part of our city,’ said Sven Schoeller, Lord Mayor of Kassel. Simone Fedderke, City Planning Officer for the City of Kassel, added: ‘The cooperation between Cureus and the city is proceeding in close and good coordination. A forward-looking, lively centre for all generations is being created here. In doing so, we are preserving an important industrial monument while at the same time making it sustainable and resilient to the challenges of climate change. The Salzmann site is thus a flagship urban development project for the city of Kassel: socially, historically and ecologically sustainable.’

Johannes Knacke, CPO (Managing Director) at compassio, on the new location: ‘We are delighted to be part of this special residential quarter, which is now being developed in Bettenhausen as a new social hub. With our range of inpatient care services in the new senior residence and the support services for the assisted living units that will be built in the south wing of the former factory building, we are providing the city and the surrounding area with urgently needed capacity for the care and support of senior citizens. It goes without saying that we will work in accordance with our high quality standards, which focus on the well-being of our residents. But we also attach great importance to the well-being of our future team. Over 100 new, crisis-proof and modern jobs will be created in the areas of care, administration, building services and services.’

Renovation begins on historic factory building for 96 social housing units

In the north wing of the five-storey former factory building along Sandershäuser Straße, approx. 5,930 square metres of socially subsidised living space for low- and middle-income households is now being created in line with modern standards. Cureus is acting as the general contractor for this construction phase, which is subject to listed building regulations. Completion is expected in autumn 2027.

In future, 96 bright apartments ranging in size from 39 to 83 square metres are planned here. The new residential units will comprise one to three rooms and will feature a living/kitchen area, a modern shower room, a hallway, storage space and a loggia. Lifts will connect the floors next to the historic staircases.

In the basement of the factory building, 33 parking spaces for motor vehicles, some of which will be accessible for disabled people and equipped for e-mobility, and 161 spaces for bicycles are planned for this construction phase. Access will be via Agathofstraße.

The apartments will subsequently be let by the Lindhorst Group's management company in cooperation with Kassel's municipal housing agency.

The entire existing building will be renovated in accordance with the special energy standards of the KfW 55-EE programme. New windows with a high degree of insulation will be installed and some of the facades will be insulated from the inside. Heating will be provided by the municipal district heating network. This will make the former factory building climate-friendly and fit for the future.

The restoration and preservation of the factory building in line with conservation guidelines includes not only the typical clinker brick façades, the generous window areas on the façades and the architecturally and historically valuable skylight halls, but also the special roofs themselves and the traditional and distinctive ‘Salzmann & Comp.’ advertising lettering on the western gable end. Renovation of the south wing and tower building will commence as soon as all requirements have been met.

Modern compassio senior residence in the south of the site with comprehensive services

The U-shaped building of the senior residence will be constructed between early 2026 and summer 2027 as a new four-storey building in line with the typical Cureus approach to system care properties. MBN GmbH has been appointed as the general contractor for this construction phase.

A total of approx. 9,170 square metres of barrier-free gross floor space will be built in accordance with KfW's energy-saving Efficiency House 40 standard. Heating will be provided by the municipal district heating network and a photovoltaic system is planned for the green roof. With its linear and modern façade featuring generous glass elements and a coordinated colour scheme in white and light grey plaster tones, the building will blend in perfectly with the surrounding development.

The experienced operator compassio will take over the operation and allocation of care places. In addition to inpatient long-term care, short-term and respite care will also be offered at this location. The residence will create over 100 full-time and part-time jobs in the areas of nursing, administration, building services and other services.

The senior residence will have 163 modern and spacious single rooms. Sixty-four of the rooms are not only barrier-free but also wheelchair-accessible. All care rooms have their own shower room with WC and, in addition to the nurse call system, telephone, internet and TV connections. To promote a family-like and social atmosphere, the rooms are divided into seven independently organised residential groups.

On the ground floor of the building, behind the friendly, hotel-like entrance area with reception and foyer, there is a library for residents to relax in and a spacious residents' restaurant with its own kitchen and sun terrace. The property will also have its own laundry for residents' laundry, a care and wellness bath, therapy and doctor's rooms, a hairdresser and a chiropodist. Four bicycle parking spaces and 17 car parking spaces – six of which are wheelchair accessible – with charging infrastructure are also planned.

The individual apartments for inpatient care in the senior residence will be sold individually to investors in 2026 on the basis of the principle of a freehold flat through the sales partner Pecuria GmbH.

The location in Kassel

The historically significant Salzmann site is located on Sandershäuser Straße, which leads directly into Leipziger Straße. It connects the Bettenhausen district with the city centre on the Fulda river, just two kilometres away, with the main railway station, the old town with its numerous shopping facilities and many public, cultural and social institutions as well as churches. The nearby Fulda river is also home to the Karlsaue city park, the Auebad Kassel swimming pool, the Buga grounds and the Auestadion Kassel stadium. Furthermore, tram and bus stops are available in the vicinity of the newly emerging Salzmann residential quarter, ensuring regular connections to the city centre and the green surrounding area. Another architectural monument, the Haferkakao factory, is also to be renovated by another investor within walking distance to create a lively place for living, services and commerce with extensive green spaces in accordance with monument preservation guidelines.

About the site of the former Salzmann factory

Detailed information about the planned Salzmann industrial monument residential complex, in which around 100 million euros are being invested in the creation of housing for all sections of the population, a senior residence, small businesses, a supermarket, restaurants, cultural facilities and areas for leisure and recreation, can be found here in our press release from March 2025: Kassel Wohncarrée Industriedenkmal Salzmann - Cureus. Current visualisations of the historic factory building and the retirement home can be found below this press release.