The city of Zittau is acquiring the site of the former East German vehicle manufacturer Robur for a mid-six-figure sum. With the signing of the purchase agreement by independent Mayor Thomas Zenker, the deal is now finalized. According to city officials, this was preceded by lengthy negotiations with the heirs of the previous owner as well as preliminary discussions with partners regarding future use of the site. There was a clear majority in favor of the deal in the city council. It was noted that for many of the city’s residents, this site represents a piece of family history. Commercial vehicles were manufactured at the Robur plant in Zittau during the GDR era. After reunification, the company was liquidated by the Treuhand. The flagship product was the Robur LO light truck. Zenker described the site as a “scarred, still-aching wound in the cityscape.” The mayor stated: “I am very grateful to the city council that we are now taking matters into our own hands again and striving to breathe new life into this historic industrial monument.” The site, which spans more than 20,000 square meters between Bahnhofstraße, Eisenbahnstraße, and Marschnerstraße, is currently occupied by various buildings, some of which are listed as historic landmarks. “Actually, we should have received money for this landscape of ruins instead of having to pay for it,” Zenker emphasized. According to the city’s plans, part of the buildings is to serve as exhibition space for a potential State Garden Show in Zittau in 2032. In addition, the city has reached an agreement with the Görlitz district and the transportation company DB Regio Bus to build the urgently needed depot on a portion of the site. To do so, some of the buildings on the site—some of which are in ruins—will have to be demolished, officials said. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved“A scarred, still-aching wound in the cityscape”
Concrete Plans for Initial Uses
