Herisau is revamping the Casinopark

A controversial redevelopment plan is currently under consideration in the centre of Herisau. The proposal for Casinopark would see the construction of flats, a public underground car park with 56 spaces, a private car park with 52 spaces and a new park. However, it is only following a public consultation, rezoning and a vote by the local council that it will be decided whether the project will go ahead.

The next step is crucial in terms of planning law. For the Casinopark, Wyburg and Sonnegg areas, the public consultation process on the sub-zone plan and development plan is currently underway. This is based on a revised project on which the municipality of Herisau and the private landowners have been working for years.

The plan is for a combined development comprising three elements: a block of flats with around 18 flats between Wyburg and Villa Sonnegg, the redevelopment of Casinopark, and two separate underground car parks. The public car park is to accommodate 56 parking spaces, whilst the private one will have 52. It was precisely this separation of access routes that has been a key point of adjustment in the planning process over recent years.

Access roads became a sticking point
The local authority had launched the project competition for the regeneration of Casinopark as early as 2020. It later became apparent that further clarifications were needed. According to a municipal publication from February 2026, the private and public underground car parks are to have separate access routes. The private car park will be accessed via the existing ramp at Wyburg. Due to this change, the traffic assessment for the Poststrasse and Wyburgweg area was also amended.

Politically, nothing has yet been finalised
From a property management perspective, it is crucial that the three sub-projects do not necessarily have to be implemented simultaneously. At the same time, the project is not yet ready for construction. Following the public consultation, the planning documents will be revised and subsequently made available for public inspection. Only then will the Municipal Council adopt the proposals. These are also subject to an optional referendum. Furthermore, as things stand, the costs of the public underground car park and the park enhancement have not yet been definitively determined.

Rezoning paves the way
From a planning perspective, the project is only feasible with rezoning. The park is to be reclassified as part of the green zone within the development area. The current vacant lot between Wyburg and Villa Sonnegg is to be reclassified from residential zone W2 to the core zone K3. This means that an idea which has been under discussion for years will only become a viable town centre project if politics, planning and infrastructure development all come together simultaneously.