Alpenland acquires former Leiner site in St. Pölten

Alpenland has acquired the former Leiner site in central St. Pölten, known as the Rossmarkthöfe, after winning a bidding process linked to the insolvency proceedings of SÜBA AG, ORF reported.

The non-profit housing cooperative plans to develop the 9,082-square-metre site into an urban, lively and high-quality neighbourhood, with a particular focus on affordable housing. Alpenland confirmed reports by the Niederösterreichische Nachrichten.

The site was originally bought by René Benko’s Signa group, which planned to develop the former headquarters of furniture retailer Leiner as a new central district under the name Rossmarkthöfe. In 2022, the project was sold to SÜBA AG, owned by property investor Klemens Hallmann. SÜBA AG filed for insolvency in April 2025, and has been in bankruptcy proceedings since October 2025 after its restructuring failed.

Plans combine existing buildings with new construction

Alpenland said central locations offer particular opportunities for sustainable urban development because of short distances, good infrastructure and proximity to workplaces, education, culture and leisure facilities. Such qualities should not be reserved exclusively for high-priced uses, the cooperative said.

“As a non-profit housing developer, we see it as our responsibility to create affordable housing where demand is particularly high, and that is especially the case in central locations,” Alpenland chairwoman Isabella Stickler said. “The Rossmarkthöfe offer a unique starting point for this.”

The development is intended to combine existing buildings with new construction. Buildings protected as monuments and as part of a historic ensemble are to receive particular consideration in the planning. The site also has potential for new structures, additional routes through the area and a varied mix of uses.

The planned neighbourhood is to combine housing, workplaces, commercial uses and other functions, while creating new routes through the site and providing affordable homes.

At least 22,500 square metres of floor space planned

The site includes developed and undeveloped plots covering about 9,082 square metres. Alpenland currently expects a minimum gross floor area of around 22,500 square metres.

Alpenland said basic planning conditions already exist in the form of a spatial planning agreement with the City of St. Pölten. Talks with the city are expected to take place in the coming months to incorporate current requirements and future plans into the development process.

The planned mix of uses includes affordable housing, a hotel, offices and commercial space. The balance between the individual uses will be defined during further planning and coordination. Alpenland did not provide a timetable for implementing the plans.