“I am delighted that, after a complicated series of events, the residents of Sonnenberg now finally have access to an accessible clubroom and a wheelchair-accessible restroom in the community center,” said Mayor Mende during the handover ceremony. “With the renovation of these spaces in accordance with historic preservation standards, the city of Wiesbaden is also fulfilling its obligation toward its historic buildings, and the result is truly impressive.”

The mayor emphasized that the space is suitable for board meetings, club gatherings, choir rehearsals, as well as gymnastics and dance classes, noting the high demand for such facilities. “Our community centers are particularly busy in the evenings. The addition of such a multifunctional space—one that is also fully accessible—is a boon for residents and clubs in Sonnenberg and throughout Wiesbaden.”

Since restoring the restaurant was not feasible for cost reasons, a new use was sought for the space formerly occupied by the restaurant. The municipal office that manages the community center, in collaboration with the Building Department, converted the approximately 55-square-meter dining area into a club room with 42 seats. The smaller, rear room, measuring about 13 square meters, will serve as a club room with eight seats. The space is complemented by a wheelchair-accessible restroom. The entire project was carried out in close coordination with the historic preservation office.

“My thanks go to the city employees and the tradespeople, who have truly outdone themselves in this space,” said Mayor Mende after his first tour of the new club room.

The Sonnenberg Community Center complex, designated as a single historic monument, emerged from the property at König-Adolf-Straße 6, which was developed between 1880 and 1900. In the southern section along König-Adolf-Straße, the site originally featured a building housing the “Restaurant Köhler,” along with hotel rooms and a converted attic apartment. In memory of this original name, the new club room is called the “Köhler Room.”

For 40 years, the community center has been the hub of local community life and a venue for social gatherings. For preventive fire safety reasons, the restaurant operations in the front building had to be discontinued several years ago. Following the city council’s decision not to undergo a complete renovation of the property for the time being due to financial constraints, the vacant dining area of the former restaurant was to be renovated and repurposed. To ensure that community life at the community center remains accessible to people with physical disabilities in the future, a wheelchair-accessible restroom was also to be installed on the ground floor. As part of this project, another restroom was to be renovated, and the aging entrance area on the ground floor was to be upgraded overall.

This has resulted in the following key areas of focus:

• New hardwood flooring
• Renovation and extension of the wooden wall paneling
• Plastering and painting work
• Stucco work
• New plumbing and electrical installations
• Tiling
• Window and roller shutter installation

Currently, a few remaining tasks are being completed and the furnishings are being adjusted.