The Florakiez in Pankow in Berlin has a lot to offer its residents. In addition to the ancient trees that line the small streets, the district is characterized above all by its renovated old apartments. The Alte Mälzerei on Mühlenstraße, for example, is a real eye-catcher. The building stood empty for many years and was then renovated in keeping with its listed status. Today, there are no longer any machines inside that produce malt. Instead, the rooms have been turned into condominiums, some of which have ceilings up to six meters high.
In addition to apartments, the old buildings also house small stores, quaint pubs and art galleries. Life is diverse, varied and family-friendly. The youngest members of the family get their money’s worth in the green spaces and parks. The children’s farm and Bleichröderpark, for example, are particularly popular. The latter has a sunbathing lawn, a playground and a forest garden.
If you are thinking of renting or buying a property in Florakiez, it is worth taking a closer look at the development of the housing market in this pleasant Berlin neighborhood.
Interesting facts about the Florakiez
Architecturally and geographically, Florakiez is very close to Prenzlauer Berg. It’s amazing how different it is despite this. While the small stores, residential buildings, playgrounds, pubs and children’s stores are reminiscent of Prenzlauer Berg, the hustle and bustle is completely absent. The Florakiez is very relaxed, even though it is located in the middle of Berlin and is one of the most popular residential areas in the metropolis.
If you want to get to know the neighborhood better, you should definitely pay a visit to the Bürgerpark Pankow. Some of the old trees are more than 150 years old. If these trees could speak, they would reflect the history of Berlin through the ages. It is hard to believe that there is such a gem in the middle of the capital. The spacious meadows and beautifully laid out flower beds invite you to let your gaze wander and take a deep breath.
The old malthouse is still located in Mühlenstraße today. Its oldest buildings were constructed in the 19th century. After standing empty for a long time, the malt house has now been completely renovated in line with its listed status and is now home to beautiful condominiums. For many years, the Florakiez district in Pankow was known for its sleepy charm. But the district has recently been kissed awake. Today, the old buildings are home to hip cafés, small restaurants and a variety of stores. The change has not left the population unscathed. More and more young families are being drawn to the neighborhood, which is so close to Prenzlauer Berg and at the same time still offers quiet living.
The Florakiez and the Pankow Zentrum social conservation area
There are a total of 14 social conservation areas in the Berlin district of Pankow, including the neighborhood around Florastrasse. Berlin’s central residential areas have undergone rapid change in recent years. The old buildings with their beautiful façades have been completely renovated and brought up to the latest standards. Neighborhoods that were long considered trendy have become modern and chic. However, the change led to a sharp rise in rents, which caused certain sections of the population to move away. An attempt is to be made to halt the transformation of Berlin’s cityscape. Against this background, social conservation areas, also known as milieu protection areas, were introduced. In our detailed article on the subject of social conservation areas in Berlin, you will find detailed information on all aspects of milieu protection.
The Florakiez extends around Florastrasse in Pankow. Property owners in this neighborhood are subject to the requirements of the milieu protection ordinance. This stipulates, for example, that there is a requirement for approval for the conversion of apartments in a milieu protection area. Special permission must be obtained if a rented apartment is to be converted into a condominium. You can find out what impact the individual ordinances have on the owners of apartments in milieu protection areas here.
What is the current real estate situation in the Florakiez?
The Berlin real estate market has been one of the most fiercely contested real estate markets in Germany for several years. This trend can also be observed in the Florakiez. Around 2010, land prices around Florastrasse were around €300/m2. However, the moderate prices have recently shot up at a rapid pace. At the beginning of 2020, they stood at € 2,500/m2, which represents an increase of 660 percent over the ten-year period.
It is understandable that no affordable housing projects can be built on such expensive building land. This applies to both condominiums and rental properties.
The purchase price trend for real estate in Florakiez
Even though prices have risen significantly in recent years, buying a property in the highly sought-after Florakiez around Florastrasse in Berlin Pankow is still worthwhile today. The analysis shows a significant price increase for the neighborhood. For research reasons, the values for Florastrasse 21 are used here; data for the entire neighborhood is not available. However, the values used are able to reflect the situation in the Florakiez residential district.
Since 2010, there has been a steady rise in property prices in Florakiez. The price growth curve runs parallel to the prices on the real estate market in Berlin as a whole and is consistently around €50/m2 below the prices that apply to Berlin in general. At the beginning of 2019, the average price for a condominium in Florakiez was €2,960/m2. An increase of 41 percent was recorded by 2022. Prices fell slightly in the last quarter of 2022, partly due to the rise in interest rates on loans. The price of houses rose by more than 50% between 2018 and 2022.
How much does a condominium in Florakiez cost?
Let’s take a closer look at the price situation in the Florakiez in Pankow, Berlin. As already mentioned, the residential area has become increasingly popular in recent years. More and more young couples and families have found their way to the neighborhood in the heart of Pankow.
The price increases have been particularly noticeable since 2019. In the first quarter of 2019, they were around € 2,960/m2 for an apartment in the Florakiez in Pankow. A particularly sharp increase was recorded in 2021 and 2022. While condominiums still cost €3,470/m2 in the first quarter of 2021, the figure in the last quarter of 2022 was an impressive €4,110/m2. This represents a price increase of 18.44% within two years. Prices flattened out in the last quarter of 2022 after reaching a high of €4,180/m2 in the third quarter. This is due to rising interest rates.
Prices in the Florakiez run parallel to prices in Berlin as a whole. They are around €50/m2 below them. Of course, these are average values. More detailed information on specific streets in Florakiez can be provided in a personal conversation. Florastrasse is a representative example at this point.
How much does a house in Florakiez cost?
An analysis of the available data for Florastrasse shows average purchase prices of €6,000/m2 to €6,500/m2 for houses in Florakiez. However, it should be noted at this point that large apartment buildings with several condominiums predominate in this residential area. Single-family homes are in high demand and usually do not stay on the real estate market for long. So you need to be quick if you want to get your hands on a townhouse in Florakiez. We recommend gathering all the documents in advance so that you can strike when a suitable offer comes onto the market around Florastrasse in Pankow.
The rental price trend for apartments in the Florakiez
At this point, we would like to point out once again that there is no data collection for the entire Florakiez. Instead, we are concentrating on the information known about one property at Florastrasse 21. They are representative of the entire neighborhood and reflect the situation on the real estate market in this Berlin residential district.
The apartments in Florakiez are highly sought-after. These are apartments in stately residential buildings from the Wilhelminian era. They have been extensively renovated in recent years, which is also reflected in the rising rents. With regard to the residential area, it should be emphasized at this point that the closure of Berlin Tegel Airport has led to a direct increase in rents. The closure was originally planned for 2012, but was delayed by several years until November 2020.
The flight path over the Florakiez is therefore disappearing, which is having an impact on rents. Residents are enjoying the newfound peace and quiet in their neighborhood. In the last quarter of 2022, rents in Florakiez averaged €10.40/m2 net cold rent. This corresponds to an increase of 16% in direct comparison to prices in the last quarter of 2018. In 2022 alone, rents rose by almost 5%. The price trend is almost exactly the same as the rental prices in Berlin as a whole. No major differences can be identified. If you are looking for an apartment in Florastrasse in Pankow, you need to be quick. It is therefore best to prepare your documents before viewing an apartment so that you can apply as a tenant immediately.
The infrastructure in the Florakiez
Florakiez is located in the heart of Pankow in the middle of the German capital Berlin. If you want to live centrally and avoid long distances, this is the place for you. What’s more, despite its small size, Florakiez has everything your heart desires. In addition to small stores, there are supermarkets, schools, doctors’ surgeries and a variety of restaurants.
Here you can find out where you can park in Florakiez, which political parties are voted for by residents and how good the medical care is:
Transport links
In the center of Berlin, residents primarily rely on public transport. The distances to work, school or other places are not far, which is why it is rarely worth using your own car. Added to this is the tight parking situation in Berlin. The German capital is known for its chronic lack of parking spaces. Anyone visiting friends or family by car is prepared to spend a long time looking for a parking space.
So it’s all the better that you can get anywhere in Berlin within a short time by public transport. Florakiez is particularly well connected to the U2 subway line and the S-Bahn lines S2, S8 and S25. They all stop at Pankow station and connect Florakiez with other parts of Berlin. Another option for residents and visitors is to use the Wollankstraße S-Bahn station. It is served by the S-Bahn lines S2, S8, S25 and S26. Wollankstraße station is currently being extensively upgraded. The construction work is expected to continue until 2025.
The M27 and 250 bus routes cross the Florakiez with increasing frequency. This decision was made by the city of Berlin because demand has risen steadily in recent years. Commuters, tourists and residents can reach their destinations even faster this way.
The parking situation in the Florakiez
The parking situation in Florakiez could certainly be described as critical. Cars park on street corners so that the crossings are not sufficiently visible for both pedestrians and other drivers. What is classified as annoying or even dangerous is part of everyday life for the residents of Florakiez. Despite this, the city of Berlin has decided not to implement parking space management in the Florakiez. The reason given for this was that this measure would not ease the critical parking situation. Most residents of the Florakiez therefore decide to leave their car parked once they have found a suitable parking space. Instead, they get around by bike or public transport as much as possible.
The demographic situation in Florakiez
Florakiez is located in the immediate vicinity of Prenzlauer Berg and was part of East Berlin before the fall of the Wall. The district is characterized by beautiful residential buildings and still exudes an upper-class charm today. In GDR times, Florakiez was considered a posh district, which can still be seen today.
In recent years, more and more young families have moved to the Florakiez. They enjoy the peace and quiet, the central location and the good connections to the rest of Berlin. A total of around 11,770 people live in Florakiez. 13.4 percent of them come from abroad and 23.4 percent have a migration background.
Party shares in the Florakiez
Anyone thinking about buying an investment property in Florakiez or moving to the residential area themselves will naturally also be interested in the lifestyle of the neighborhood’s residents.
There is no data available that is only valid for Florakiez. Instead, the election results for the Berlin-Pankow constituency are used here. They are representative of the Florakiez and reflect the situation in the neighborhood.
While the Left Party won the 2017 Bundestag elections, the Greens won the 2021 Bundestag elections in the Berlin-Pankow constituency with a total of 25.5% of the vote. The SPD took second place with 21.5% of the vote. The Left Party came third with 16.2% and the CDU came fourth with 12.7%.
The elections for district councils took place in September 2021. In the Berlin-Pankow district, the Greens came first with 24.7% of the vote. In second place was the Left Party with 19.4%, closely followed by the SPD with 17.1%. The CDU came fourth with 12.3% of the vote.
Daycare centers, kindergartens and schools in Florakiez
The youngest members of the Florakiez residents’ families go to one of the kindergartens. The Junges Gemüse kindergarten and Krikelkrakel gGmbH are located in the immediate vicinity of Florakiez. As soon as the children reach school age, they go to SchuleEins, Mendel-Grundschule or the Freie integrative Montessorie-Schule Sternenwiese, for example. They are all located directly in Florakiez and offer excellent opportunities for primary school children. The Kurt-Tucholsky-Oberschule, for example, is close to the Florakiez, but the Klax Schule and the Rosa-Luxemburg-Gymnasium are also not far away.
Doctors and medical care in the Florakiez
When the residents of Florakiez need medical treatment, they go to the clinics and health centers in the Pankow Zentrum district. One option is to visit the Garbátyplatz health center, directly opposite the Pankow S-Bahn station. Doctors of various specialties are located throughout the district and provide medical care for the residents of Pankow.
Well-known clinics in the district include the Pankow Birth Center, the Evangelical Lung Clinic, the Maria Heimsuchung-Caritas Clinic Pankow and the Immanuel Hospital Buch.
Conclusion
The Florakiez is just as popular with residents as it is with investors. Hardly any other neighborhood in Berlin can boast such beautiful architecture. In Florakiez, you live in the middle of Pankow in the center of Berlin, but still have extensive parks in the immediate vicinity. You can easily get to other areas of the metropolis by bike or public transport and can also get to work in a short time during rush hour.
Pankow is a very interesting district overall, but the Florakiez is a real gem. The residents appreciate the peace and quiet, which is otherwise very rare in such a central location in Berlin. It is a neighborhood that has beautiful parks in addition to shopping facilities, restaurants, cafés, stores and doctors’ surgeries. The residents of Florakiez love to stroll through the streets with their children after work, admire the goods in the stores through the chic shop windows and meet up with friends in a café.
The quality of life in Florakiez is extremely high, as the neighborhood really does offer everything that makes the heart beat faster. It is therefore not surprising that property prices in this residential area have risen steadily in recent years. Despite the rise in interest rates on loans, there is no sign of a slump in prices. Most of the properties consist of residential buildings from the Wilhelminian era, in which there are several condominiums. The value of the apartments is underpinned by their structural fabric and renovation work.
