Funding extended to the Land of Thuringia in the form of a loan by the Commission.
News Article: Controversial Development Plans for Bleibtreustraße 48a in Charlottenburg
In Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, a corner building facing Kantstraße on Bleibtreustraße is set to be demolished to make way for a new development. The project, scheduled for completion in spring 2027, will see the construction of the new headquarters for VBKI (Verein Berliner Kaufleute und Industrieller), spanning seven floors with a usable area of 2,100 square meters.
However, the plans have sparked controversy. Wolfgang Mahnke, spokesman for Housing and Construction, has stated that while demolition in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is common, the alienation law generally excludes demolition of residential space. The building in question, despite appearing to be in good condition with new-looking doors and a doorbell system with a camera, houses commercial spaces on the lower floors and tenants on the fourth floor.
Rüdiger Dreißler, a left politician, has criticised the demolition of affordable rental apartments, suggesting that a part of the building could be built upon. He argues that allowing high real estate yields through implementing regulations is a scandal and that the fight for affordable housing is about principle.
The current plans deviate from the valid planning regulations, and an application for exemption is pending. If a demolition is approved, replacement housing must be created or the owner obtains a negative certificate from the housing office, certifying that there is no protectable residential space in the building.
The district councilor has welcomed urban development on the property, stating it would create more living space and improve the property's ecological situation. The project emphasises sustainability, featuring fossil-free heat generation, rooftop photovoltaic panels, CO2-reduced concrete, and has achieved DGNB Platinum pre-certification. However, the nature of the rental spaces or plans explicitly related to affordable housing or impacts on rental costs in the area have not been specified.
Tenants, including Laura Brücker (name changed), must move out by August 1st. The building currently houses two restaurants on the ground floor, one Vietnamese and one Persian. The real estate developer Pohl & Prym GmbH is pushing forward the plans for the property.
The Tenant Werkstatt advocates for a revision of the implementing regulations to extend the refinancing period for current investments to 20 to 30 years. This could potentially provide more time for the development of affordable housing projects. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the development will impact affordable housing and local rental prices in Charlottenburg.
- The controversy surrounding the development plan for Bleibtreustraße 48a in Charlottenburg includes the discussion about affordable housing, as Rüdiger Dreißler, a left politician, has criticized the demolition of rental apartments.
- The scheduled demolition of the building at Bleibtreustraße 48a, despite being primarily commercial and office space, has sparked debate about the alienation law and residential space protection in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.
- The district councilor's support for urban development on the property at Bleibtreustraße 48a, notably the emphasis on sustainability, has not addressed the concerns about the impact on affordable housing and local rental prices in Charlottenburg.
- In light of the controversial development plans for Bleibtreustraße 48a, the Tenant Werkstatt is advocating for revising the implementing regulations to refinance current investments over 20 to 30 years, potentially creating more time for the development of affordable housing projects.
