Bergedorf-Bille eG operates as a housing cooperative in Hamburg's Bergedorf borough, managing around 9,800 apartments for its members. Founded decades ago in this southeastern district known for its green spaces and small-town feel along the Bille river, the organization provides long-term tenancy rights at stable rents, backed by ongoing renovations and maintenance.
Its history mirrors Bergedorf's evolution from a medieval trading outpost under joint Hamburg-Lübeck rule until 1868, when Hamburg fully acquired the area, to a modern borough integrated into the city in 1938. The cooperative emerged amid post-war reconstruction, focusing on affordable housing in a region that grew from 12,468 residents in the 1860s condominium to over 130,000 today across 154.8 square kilometers.
Today, it builds about 130 new apartments annually, emphasizing diverse housing types and mixed user groups in appealing locations. A key project at Wiesnerring involves modernizing over 500 units into a forward-looking neighborhood, complete with on-site solar panels supplying cheaper, fossil-free electricity to residents—a process that began member consultations in 2023. Another initiative partners with the German Red Cross to offer free services and discounted emergency call systems, enabling elderly members to stay in familiar homes longer.
The scope covers construction, resident support, and sustainable upgrades, serving a community where forests and the Bille shape daily life. With Hamburg's port legacy nearby, Bergedorf-Bille eG addresses urban housing pressures through practical, member-driven efforts.