New managing director for Ueckermünde's housing construction: Prade takes over!

New managing director for Ueckermünde's housing construction: Prade takes over!

In the beautiful city of Ueckermünde there is a change at the top of the Ueckermünder Wohnungsbaugesellschaft (UWG) and the Ueckermünde Heat Supply and Services Company (UWD). Long-time managing director Norbert Raulin, who was brought back by the city in 2021, is preparing to retire. Raulin originally retired from active business in 2019 at the age of 69 for personal reasons. But the challenges with his successor brought him back to the position, which he will now hold until July 31, 2025. Raulin, who has done a lot for the city in recent years, plans to thoroughly train his successor Stefan Prade to ensure a smooth transition.

Stefan Prade, who comes from Boldekow, has an impressive CV at 44 years old. He has more than 20 years of experience in management consulting and most recently worked at Webasto in Neubrandenburg. He is married and has two children. Mayor Jürgen Kliewe and the chairman of the supervisory board Marco Uhteg were so convinced of Prade's idea that they chose him for the position without hesitation. Now Prade will officially be hired at the UWD on June 1, 2025 and will take over responsibility from August 1.

Insight into the challenges

UWG is currently facing particular challenges: while around 1,000 apartments are managed, the vacancy rate is around 10 percent. Raulin said that no new apartments could be built given the current high building interest rates. This means that rents could be around 15 euros per square meter - a circumstance that is particularly important in connection with the demand from Berlin and the surrounding area, where around 50 new apartments are needed.

Another project that Prade will tackle during his first few weeks is connecting the gym at Haffring and the kindergarten there to the district heating network. This is a step towards sustainable development, which the UWD should also promote, in particular by adding biomethane to district heating generation. The company is therefore aiming for climate neutrality, which is of great importance these days.

Urban development as a community task

The challenges in urban development are not isolated. At the national level, initiatives are committed to lively and successful urban planning. The national urban development policy, supported by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction, promotes the exchange of current urban social trends and highlights exemplary solutions. Such approaches help to make and maintain cities and communities worth living in, which is also of central importance for Ueckermünde.

The next few weeks and months will be crucial for Stefan Prade in setting the course for the future of the Ueckermünde housing organization. With a new wind and fresh ideas, the city is looking forward to exciting developments. Your concerns will certainly also be supported by the support from Raulin during the training, who would like to use his last months in active management wisely.