Investors are increasingly pursuing concepts that combine a variety of functions in a single complex. In Poland, mixed-use projects dominate especially in the largest Polish metropolises, where dense development and high demand create favourable conditions for their implementation. We analyse mixed-use projects in individual cities in Poland to understand the specifics and development potential of each location.

From the article you will learn:

·       What has happened in the Polish mixed-use project market?

·       What buildings within the mixed-use complexes were commissioned in 2023?

·       Which tenants have debuted in Polish mixed-use projects?

·       What projects remain under construction?

Warsaw

Warsaw will remain the main market for mixed-use developments, and it is in the capital that the largest mixed-use projects in Poland are underway.

·       Construction work has started on the first office building in the Towarowa 22 complex in Warsaw’s Wola district in 2023, and further stages of Bohema in the Praga-Północ district, near the Szwedzka subway station, remain under construction.

·       New food and beverage brands have joined Norblin Factory’s tenants list, and fashion brands Answear.com and PRM are scheduled to open in 2024. The Praga Koneser Center saw the opening of Poland’s first restaurant L’Osteria and Warsaw’s first Spółdzielnia location. Among the debuts in Elektrownia Powiśle was the opening of Milk Bar breakfast bar, the first restaurant of Ukrainian brand in Poland. The catering offer of Browary Warszawskie was complemented by the BAKEN and Alma brands. At the same time, the closure of Food Hall PZO in the multifunctional complex on Grochowska Street should be noted.

·       In the following months we will follow the future of the Podwórko Project, a project in Warsaw's Downtown in the quarter bounded by Nowogrodzka, Poznańska and Św. Barbary streets. In the spring of 2023, plans were presented for the Noho Investment residential and commercial complex on Karolkowa Street. Cavatina Group announced a planned mixed-use project, with a predominantly residential function, in nearby Wola. The Arche Group has purchased the 10-hectare site of Fort Szczęśliwice in Warsaw's Ochota district for a mixed-use development. The development is to make use of 19th-century military buildings.

Tricity

By the sea, we are seeing dynamic development of post-shipyard areas in Gdansk, and Gdynia is keeping pace in mixing the functions of existing buildings with various developer projects.  

·       In June, Montownia Food Hall opened in Gdansk on an area of about 2,500 sqm. The historic hall also featured conference rooms and lofts. This is part of the larger Doki project under construction, which is also to include residential and office space. Other developments are also planned, including Stocznia Centrum Gdansk and Stocznia Cesarska, among others. In the Wrzeszcz district, construction is underway on the next stages of the large-scale Garnizon development.

·       Construction is underway in Gdynia at Waterfront project by developer Vastint's. Office and residential buildings at the Sea Towers skyscraper are currently under construction. Other projects are already planned in the neighbourhood, such as the Allenort Group's complex of hotel, apartment and service buildings, as well as the New Marina Gdynia project. A new mixed-use development by Allcon, next to the Riviera shopping center, is also to be built in Gdynia. The project is to begin with the residential part.

Lodz

One of the most interesting mixed-use projects in Poland is steadily expanding in the booming metropolis of Lodz, and the historic sites of post-factory textile industry buildings are getting new life.

·       Construction work is underway on the WIMA Widzewska Manufaktura project by developer Cavatina, which has announced the development of apartments in the largest post-industrial building in the complex, which was previously intended to serve as offices.

·       More phases of the Fuzja project are being commissioned. Office Building J, with a leasable area of nearly 2,000 sqm, opened in 2023 (where flexible office space operator CitySpace is located), as well as another phase of the residential part. More apartments and an office building (I- 01) are expected to be commissioned in 2024.

·       New tenants are joining the multifunctional complex on the grounds of the former spinning mill on Piotrkowska Street. Last year OFF Piotrkowska welcomed brands: Off Studio by The Bomb Solution, ANNA (both in the Saffron building) and also MyGlow (Tangerine).

Poznan

In 2023, construction of two mixed-use projects began in Poznan.

·       Development of the Stara Rzeźnia project, by developer Vastint, on the site of a historic 19th-century industrial complex is beginning. The first step will be the restoration of the brick facade of one of the historic buildings and the renovation of its interiors. Ultimately, the post-industrial buildings are to be supplemented with residential, office and retail/commercial/catering developments.

·       Construction of the residential component of the Cavallia project also began in 2023. Also the Kolejova 1 project was announced in the Łazarz district, which includes the construction of new buildings and also the adaptation of historic buildings.

Wroclaw

The shape of Wroclaw's market for mixed-use projects will be influenced primarily by the trend of redevelopment of existing retail facilities in attractive locations.

·       Construction of the Quorum complex located on the banks of the Odra River is underway. Also of note is the opening of the Pedet food court area as part of the Renoma retail and service project. Modernisation of the Sky Tower mixed-use building is underway - the changes will include the retail part and the viewing terrace facilities.

·       A new mixed-use development will be built in the next few years on the site of the Arkady Wrocławskie shopping center. The final closing date for the existing facility on Powstańców Śląskich Street today is the first half of 2024. The new development is to be carried out by the property's new owner, Vastint Poland.

Katowice

Developers’ activity in the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis is mainly focused on Katowice.

·       The redevelopment of the Supersam facility in Katowice, where office space was increased at the expense of retail, was completed in 2023.

·       A project is planned to revitalise a post-industrial area of the city in the northern part of Katowice - Nowy Wełnowiec. Also worth monitoring is a project that will be built on the site of the closed-down iconic shopping centre Belg - investor Cavatina is planning a residential and retail-service development.

Krakow

In Krakow, the first mixed-use complexes were Fabryczna City and Browar Lubicz. The following projects by well-known developers may join them in the coming months:

·       In place of the former supply warehouses of Fortress Krakow at Wita Stwosza Street, Echo Investment and Archicom's WITA mixed-use project will be built, which will combine office, residential and retail functions.

·       Multifunctional projects are also planned at the site of the former Galeria Plaza shopping centre (Strabag).

·       Work is underway on NOHO Investment's Młyny Mogilska project, which makes use of the historic urban fabric after the grain mills.

Summary of the Polish mixed-use market

As of the end of 2023, there were two mixed-use complexes each under construction in three agglomerations: Warsaw, Łódź and the Tricity. We should note the construction of further phases of large-scale developments such as Garnizon in Gdansk and Port Praski in Warsaw. We are also observing an increase in the importance of the residential component in ongoing and planned investments - in those currently under construction they account for as much as 2/3 of the dominant function. This trend is evidenced, among other things, by the announced changes to the WIMA Widzewska Manufaktura project.

Last year we observed tenant turnover within existing mixed-use projects. New catering tenants joined Warsaw's multifunctional complexes, among others: Norblin Factory, Koneser Prague Center, Browary Warszawskie or Elektrownia Powiśle. Selected brands decided to leave mixed-use projects, which in selected cases may result in decisions to change the function of the gastronomic part to retail or service.

Author: Wojciech Wojtowicz | fot. Montownia Gdańsk, Euro Styl