Berlin’s €8B Schumacher Quartier to ease housing crisis and shelter refugees
Berlin is transforming the former Tegel Airport site into a new residential district, the Schumacher Quartier, with an investment of approximately eight billion euros from both public and private sources. Meanwhile, the city is also addressing the housing needs of Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers.
The city faces a significant housing shortage, estimated at around 100,000 homes. To tackle this, Berlin is focusing on building small apartments across various neighborhoods instead of provisional shelters. The Schumacher Quartier development is a key part of this strategy, set to house over 10,000 people and include essential facilities like schools, daycare centers, and sports facilities.
Currently, around 54,000 Ukrainians live in Berlin with temporary residence permits. The central Tegel shelter, which houses approximately 1,500 Ukrainians, will close by mid-2026. The Berlin Senate plans to create housing for an additional 8,600 asylum seekers and Ukrainians to meet the growing demand.
The Schumacher Quartier development, with its eight billion euro investment, is set to provide significant housing relief for Berlin. Alongside this, the city is actively addressing the specific needs of Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers, ensuring they have suitable accommodation as they integrate into the community.
