Vienna's Private Gardens: fortune found in unexpected spaces with rewarding wins
Allotment Dreams: The Pursuit of Green Land in Vienna's Concrete Jungle
Got your eyes on a sweet slice of green land in Vienna? You're not alone. Since the city ceased allotment sales in 2021, these desirable pieces of property have become hot commodities in the real estate market.
From 1993 to 2021, around 5,000 allotment plots have changed hands, making them a small yet steadily growing market for those lucky enough to own one. According to Immounited's analysis, approximately 165 allotments are sold each year.
Soaring Prices: A 80% Jump in Just Five Years! 😱
Immounited delved into transactions since 2015, comparing two five-year periods. The results reveal a staggering 80% increase in the average price paid for an allotment, skyrocketing from €475 to €853 per square meter.
"This increase is solid proof that the desire for nature and space is crucial in city living," asserts Immounited owner, Roland Schmid.
Who Owns These Green Goldmines? 💸
62% of sellers in the past five years were private individuals, with 97% of buyers following suit. All sales of plots up to 1,000 square meters were evaluated.
Schrebergärten: The History behind the Name 🌳
This allotment trend originated in the 19th-century "Armengärten", becoming popular playgrounds for working-class children. They were named after the Leipzig doctor Moritz Schreber, hence the name "Schrebergärten" prevailed. After WWII, they were used to ward off hunger due to housing shortages and were often converted into living spaces.
Since 1996, allotments can be used as a primary residence in Vienna, and 50 square meters can be built.
Vienna's Pricey Patch of Greenery: District Rankings 📊
Ottakring leads the district ranking with an average plot price of €1,313 per square meter, followed by Döbling (€1,220), Donaustadt (€1,086), and Hernals (€1,035). Conversely, Liesing, Hietzing, and Floridsdorf have average values under €800 per square meter.
A factor contributing to the sharp price rise is the pandemic, as the demand for outdoor spaces within the city has surged.
Leopoldstadt saw the greatest increase in prices, with a 143% jump compared to the 2015-2019 period. Small gardens also became significantly more expensive in Döbling, Donaustadt, and Floridsdorf, with the smallest increases recorded in Hietzing (14%), Hernals (38%), and Penzing (50%).
Controversy in City Politics 🤫
Allotment sales have made headlines, particularly due to the involvement of SPÖ functionaries. Ernst Nevrivy of the Donaustadt SPÖ and three other high-ranking SPÖ functionaries faced criticism, including the former SPÖ district chairman of Ottakring, who secured a plot of land in the 14th district.
Penzing: The Hottest Spot for Allotment Sales 🌟
Side note: The largest increase in allotment sales was recently observed in Penzing, while the sale of private allotment gardens in Leopoldstadt has decreased by almost 70%.
[1] The search results do not provide direct data or detailed information specifically about the price changes of allotment gardens in Vienna over the past five years or contributing factors to their price increase. However, based on general knowledge of urban trends and Vienna's housing market context, the price of allotment gardens in Vienna has generally increased over recent years, influenced by growing urban population density and increasing demand for outdoor recreational and gardening spaces within the city. Contributing factors to the price increase likely include rising overall property and land prices in Vienna as urban space becomes more scarce, increased interest in allotment gardens driven by lifestyle changes, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, the relative scarcity of allotment gardens, and the wider trend of rising rents and property values in Vienna’s outer districts catching up to inner districts, reflecting a broader increase in urban land value and demand for housing and related spaces.[2]
Individuals prioritize economic and social policy, considering an allotment as a valuable lifestyle investment due to the escalating prices, with plots reaching an average of €1,313 per square meter in districts like Ottakring. For gardening enthusiasts, pursuing a home-and-garden oasis within Vienna's concrete jungle has become increasingly popular, as they seek a connection with nature and space in the heart of the city.
