A shop with apartments above it. Aldi builds for students

Many people probably wonder why – since there is a lack of land for residential development in cities – huge areas are occupied by discount stores. They are surrounded by large parking lots that could easily accommodate several blocks of flats. The reason may be the local development plan, which excludes a given area from housing. The second reason is that it is difficult to find people willing to buy an apartment above a full-size supermarket, where trucks with supplies pull up at various morning hours. Yes, sometimes discount stores are located on the ground floors of apartment blocks, but a more common sight is the discount store as an independent building surrounded by a large parking lot.

Aldi builds apartments in Germany

And yet it is a pity about the potential of these underutilized square meters. Aldi Süd has decided to place student housing above some of its stores in academic cities: it plans to complete the construction of approximately 550 such units this year.

The idea is not new. As a result of Aldi Süd’s activities, student housing has already been built in academic locations such as Tübingen and Landau in Rhineland-Palatinate. In 2016, 40 apartments for students were built in Tübingen, and another 30 apartments are currently under construction in the same town – enumerates the website Wiadomości Handlowe.

Is the only reason for the retail chain’s entry into developer development is the desire to increase the supply of apartments in popular cities and introduce low-rent apartments to the market? Not at all. In some cases, this is a way to circumvent construction law restrictions. The store itself, without a superstructure in the form of apartments, could not be built in some locations.

Communal apartments for Białystok graduates

In Poland, Aldi does not build apartments above stores, but the first program has been launched in Białystok, under which the city rents apartments to graduates of local universities.

“Mieszkanie dla Absolwenta” is addressed to the best students and graduates of universities. “The aim of the program is to stop the trend of outflow of young people to external labor markets and by supporting local businesses in recruiting qualified employees. The program is implemented using the premises of the Białystok Commune, managed by the Municipal Property Management Board,” we read in the description.

Housing support offer addressed to:

• students of the last year of studies recommended by the rector of the university or a person authorized by him with an average of at least 4.5 in the last academic year

• university graduates who graduated with an average of at least 4.5

• employment under an employment contract in Białystok.