Bad Reichenhall: Digital Land Management for a Viable City Centre of the Future

Which vacant properties can be put to use, what types of uses are missing—and where does the greatest potential lie for the city centre? This is exactly where the project in Bad Reichenhall comes in: As part of the “Strong Place Marketing for Vibrant City Centres” funding program, our team of experts is supporting Bad Reichenhall Tourismus und Stadtmarketing GmbH (BRM) in setting up a digital space management system for city centre development.

The goal of the project is to measurably reduce vacancy rates, strengthen the retail and service offerings, and further develop central locations with appropriate uses. Digital space management consolidates information on vacancies, uses, properties, foot traffic, and purchasing power—serving as a management tool for engaging with property owners, interim uses, new business locations, and strategic decisions.

An Overview of Our Services:

• Establishment and Maintenance of a Structured Digital Land Management System
• Surveys of Vacancies, Uses, and Real Estate Information
• Analysis of foot traffic and purchasing power data, as well as conducting surveys
• Developing and conducting participatory formats, workshops, and one-on-one meetings
• Building a network of property owners and stakeholder management, including a stakeholder map
• Planning for Interim Uses and Future Uses
• Developing a roadmap with short-, medium-, and long-term measures
• Provide support in implementing initiatives, communication, and public relations, as well as in managing grant funds

To begin with, we are conducting a systematic, data-driven analysis of Bad Reichenhall’s city centre . We are recording vacancies, land uses, and relevant real estate information, reconciling existing data, and updating it in the existing Berchtesgadener Land location portal.

This creates a digital land management system that highlights development potential, documents land use transparently, and supports decision-making for place marketing, property owners, and other stakeholders.

To get an accurate picture of the situation, we look at the city centre from several perspectives:

• Traffic data from hystreet and T-Systems (T-Mobile) shows us when and how central locations are used.
• Purchasing power analyses and surveys provide us with insights into which offerings are in demand, which target groups are being reached, and where opportunities to attract visitors can be strengthened.

Based on these findings, we develop concrete approaches: for realistic usage scenarios, targeted revitalization measures, and the strategic further development of amenities and the quality of the visitor experience.

Vacant spaces can only be revitalized if the people behind them become part of the process. That’s why we place a special focus on building a network of property owners: Through one-on-one conversations, workshops, and participatory formats, we bring property owners, business owners, the restaurant industry, the real estate sector, government officials, community initiatives, and other downtown stakeholders together around the table.

To complement this , we create a stakeholder map that categorizes roles, interests , and areas of influence—serving as the foundation for structured stakeholder management.

With a community engagement week in October 2026 and a website tracking the project’s progress, the process will become tangible for local residents as well: Together, we’ll discuss potential opportunities, ideas for use, and next steps.

Based on the data and discussions , we develop concepts for interim uses, revitalization initiatives, and new uses in central locations. To this end , we evaluate spaces, usage ideas, and framework conditions within the urban context, with the goal of revitalizing vacant spaces by restoring their function, foot traffic, and appeal.

Importantly, we view temporary uses, pop-up formats, local initiatives, follow-up solutions, and new business models not as isolated actions, but as part of a strategic development plan for the entire downtown area . The mix must be right. And that includes retail and dining as well as non-consumer-oriented gathering spaces.

Based on the analyses, discussions, and usage perspectives, we develop a roadmap with short-, medium-, and long-term measures. This also means that we define priorities, identify next steps, and establish clear and transparent lines of responsibility.

At the same time, we support communication and public relations efforts—including through reports and opportunities for public participation. Monitoring and grant management provide organizational support for the process and form the foundation for sustainable and effective digital land management.

The project is currently underway. It is already becoming clear that the digital land management system for Bad Reichenhall is evolving into a practical management tool for targeting vacant properties and steering city centre development based on data.

In addition, participatory formats and the planned participation week in October 2026 will bring the process directly to the city centre and to the people: data, perspectives, and ideas for use will be discussed together with local stakeholders and translated into realistic next steps.

Photos: Anna Basener, Bad Reichenhall Tourism and Place Marketing GmbH