With the decision of the City Council to demolish the Technical Town Hall, a debate began regarding the use of the now-vacant site. The original goal—to create a reduced, fine-grained development with as diverse a mix of uses as possible—initially failed following the presentation of the competition results in 2005. Subsequently, discussions began on whether a reconstruction of the quarter following the medieval parcel structure could be a viable option. In preparation for further decisions, a study on the source material and historical context of the area between the Cathedral and the Römer was commissioned. The findings were documented in the Altstadt Documentation.
Based on the findings of the comprehensive study on the Old Town, the specially established political committee DomRömer commissioned a planning workshop on the subject. The results were documented in a report and incorporated into a decision-ready proposal. Ultimately, both the urban planning and design framework as well as the usage concept for the redevelopment of the Dom-Römer site were summarized in a presentation by the City Administration (M112) in June 2007 and submitted to the City Council for a decision. The resolution was adopted on September 6, 2007, during the 15th session of the City Council.
In 2009, the establishment of a municipal company for the planning and implementation of this urbanistically unique project was decided. According to §10 of the Articles of Association, a Design Advisory Board was to be convened. It must consist of at least three members, with the composition determined by the shareholders’ meeting upon the recommendation of the City Council. At its founding, the Design Advisory Board comprised three voting members—Prof. Christoph Mäckler (Chair), Prof. Fritz Neumeyer, and Prof. Arno Lederer—as well as three non-voting representatives (Dr. Dieter Bartezko, Prof. Petra Kahlfeldt, and Björn Wissenbach). The role of the Design Advisory Board included advising the Supervisory Board and management with the goal of achieving a coherent appearance for the area to be developed. As an independent expert body, it also oversaw compliance with the design regulations adopted by the City Council.
In 2010, DomRömer GmbH launched a complex design competition for the contemporary new buildings on the Dom-Römer site. Work on the development of the entire area began immediately afterward with the first-prize winners of the individual parcels, in coordination with the architects responsible for the reconstructions.
