Netzwerk Leipziger Freiheit is an initiative supporting cooperative and affordable housing in Leipzig, Germany. It was established in 2016 as part of the city’s housing-policy objectives.9 LinkedIn also lists 2016 as the organisation’s founding year.5
The network functions as a local contact point and coordination platform for housing groups seeking to develop and manage cooperative residential projects.16 Its work is coordinated by the City of Leipzig’s Amt für Wohnungsbau und Stadterneuerung, the municipal office responsible for housing construction and urban renewal.9 The network’s coordination office acts as an intermediary between the city and its partner organisations.6
Its partners include mostly voluntary initiatives and associations that advise groups developing cooperative housing projects in Leipzig.6 Other active partners include the city’s Amt für Stadterneuerung und Wohnungsbauförderung, as well as organisations responsible for neighbourhood, main-street and urban-renewal management and property-owner advice.1 The network therefore combines municipal support with independent advisory expertise.
Key activities include free initial consultations, referrals to specialist partners for project concepts, and assistance with construction, legal and financial questions.69 It also supports the city’s concept-based allocation of land for housing projects and provides information, examples and networking opportunities for project groups and tenants.19 In addition, the network has contributed to policy work concerning support for cooperative housing at Saxony level.4
The organisation is based at Leibnizstraße 15 in Leipzig and offers telephone consultation from Monday to Thursday, from 13:00 to 17:00.6 Identified personnel include Jens Gerhardt of the coordination office and Tanja Korzer, who has acted as a contact person for a concept-based land-allocation procedure.911 Its geographic scope is local, focused on Leipzig,...