The curtain on the stage of the Rhein-Main-Theater Niedernhausen will no longer rise, and the 1566 seats will no longer be filled.

Rather, it is only a matter of time before the theater built in 1995 for the Webber musical "Sunset Boulevard" is threatened with the wrecking ball.

After purchasing the theater last year, the new owner, the Frankfurt real estate developer Mario von Heesen and his wife Carmen, initially intended to renovate it as a versatile event venue.

Oliver Bock

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for the Rheingau-Taunus district and for Wiesbaden.

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But the commissioned architect Adrian Khalifé of the project developer Salco warned after an inventory of a grave of millions.

According to Mario von Heesen, renovation costs of 4.5 million euros were to be expected for the theater building, which was already dilapidated on the outside.

This does not include the renovation of the dilapidated multi-storey car park, which is also threatened with demolition.

The von Heesen couple abandoned their plans and developed new ideas with Salco.

However, these largely depend on the participation of the municipality of Niedernhausen, because they have to change the land use plan and the development plan.

Mayor Joachim Reimann (CDU) regrets that the house no longer has a future as an event location.

But Reimann also recalls "many setbacks and real bankruptcies" after the quick end of "Sunset Boulevard".

"A safe grave of millions"

The building erected by Feria Bau KG of the Friedrichshafen investor Peter Buck had served as a theater well before the pandemic began.

The musical ended in 1998 after 992 performances because demand was far below expectations.

After that, there had been several partly dubious attempts at a revival, for example with the musical "Jeanne d'Arc" by entrepreneur Florian Willmanns, who was outside the industry and who capitulated even before the premiere.

Five years ago, a tenant tried again and at times even considered buying it.

But even that turned out to be an illusion.

No potent buyer was found who would have been willing to make the necessary investments for the preservation of the theater and, above all, for modern fire protection.

summarizes Reimann the past years.

Getting the community involved was never up for debate, because that "would have become a safe grave for millions".

Von Heesen now wants to settle apartments or shops on the 28,500 square meter site, which he did not specify the purchase price for.

According to Reimann, his preferred variant is a dense development with an extended mix of commercial and social facilities such as a kindergarten.

Reimann also considers a "purely residential development on a manageable scale" or a commercial area to be possible as a scenario, which of course would have to take the existing hotel into account.

Good connections and affordable housing

For the new “Theaterquartier”, the municipality attaches great importance to a good connection to local public transport, an advanced energy concept and a “sufficient proportion of affordable living space”.

The investor includes the reactivation of the former musical stop on the Ländches railway line in his considerations.

Then 120 parking spaces could also be provided for a park-and-ride area, as Wiesbaden would like to designate together with surrounding communities such as Niedernhausen.

Von Heesen, who is behind Combi Immobilien Treuhand GmbH, founded a Rhein-Main-Theater Projekt GmbH based in Dreieich for the project.

When he can get started with his planning office depends on the planning guidelines set by the municipality.

Carmen von Heesen insists that

that perhaps already in the summer it will finally be clear "where the journey can go".

According to Reimann, there have already been talks with the parliamentary groups.

From the municipality's point of view, it is important to "find the best for Niedernhausen among the realistic options" across party lines.

For Mario von Heesen it is his most ambitious project to date.

He was never a musical guest in this theater: "I only know it from the outside when driving past".

However, he has a knack for real estate that no one else wants and successfully trusts his “gut feeling”.

He will also bring patience with him.

The mayor expects planning and approval periods of four to six years.