CentrO
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CentrO is part of a large commercial development in Oberhausen, Germany, called the "Neue Mitte" or "new center". A large steel production plant used to occupy the site until the late 1980s. Besides the CentrO shopping mall the area today houses attractions such as a children's theme park and a water-lined boulevard with restaurants and pubs. Planet Hollywood briefly occupied a space in the mall before the company went bankrupt and abruptly closed many stores, including the one in CentrO. The mall was based on Meadowhall, a large shopping centre in Sheffield, England (both malls had the same developer). It is often claimed that CentrO is the largest shopping mall on the continent, but at approximately 70,000 m2, it is not even the largest in the region. CentrO is however notable because it signifies the transformation of Oberhausen from an industry-based to a services-based economy and has become a role model for other German cities.
The development was rather controversial, with neighbouring municipalities opposing the project, fearing a loss of sales in their city centers.[1]
The Gasometer, a 100-meter tall former gas storage container come museum, is open to the public and a short walk from CentrO.
[edit] Getting to CentrO
CentrO is easily accessible by both road and public transport. By road, take the A42 and turn off at OB-Osterfeld/Neue Mitte, or follow the signs. CentrO is very well signposted. To get there by public transport from Oberhausen Hbf (Hauptbahnhof) go to Terminal 1 outside the Hbf and take ANY bus or tram to Neue Mitte.
GPS Latitude: 51°29'24.18"N Longitude: 6°52'43.96"E
[edit] References
- ^ Basten, Ludger: "Die Neue Mitte Oberhausen: Ein Großprojekt der Stadtentwicklung im Spannungsfeld von Politik und Planung"; Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 1998 (in German). ISBN 3-7643-5903-X
[edit] External links
