- Berlin-Mitte district authorizes the dismantling of structures in Berlin-Mitte.
In a long-standing disagreement concerning a hardly inhabited residential area in Berlin-Mitte, the Mitte district administration has granted a demolition license. In return, the real estate firm has pledged to construct substitute apartments at a rental fee appropriate for a standard earning household, as stated by the district administration. Thanks to prior judicial decisions, the authority couldn't reject the permit.
Stefanie Remlinger, the Green Party's Mitte district mayor, elaborated, "Although we preferred a different resolution, we didn't have any other choice but to approve the demolition." She continued, "As a district, we fought to secure as many advantages as possible for the people who've resided in Habersaathstraße for years or recently moved there."
Berlin Tenants' Association's Grumblings
The real estate company intends to construct a new building on the Habersaathstraße 40-48 plot and has removed residents. Courts in Mitte and Berlin have ruled in the tenants' favor, claims the Berlin Tenants' Association.
Sebastian Bartels, the tenants' association's CEO, commented, "The district office ought to now support the housing community's struggle against the aggressive property owner, mostly by thoroughly enforcing infractions such as the inoperative hot water supply through routine inspections."
Simultaneously, Bartels criticized the district's rental guidelines as excessively generous. "Rent rates of 11.50 to 16.50 euros per square meter for a replacement building wouldn't be affordable for the existing residents who pay reasonable rates," Bartels judged. The district office apparently gave in to the investor's demands and restored the terminated demolition permit "investor-friendlily."
Uncertainty over Involved Individuals
The precise number of people residing in the building remains unclear. The district estimates there are 5 to 12 long-term tenants, 30-50 former homeless, and an equal number of refugees.
Remlinger affirmed that the real estate firm has already consented to build new accommodation for refugees and the homeless. The building will be situated in Paper Street, with the necessary construction permits already submitted to Mitte district.
The European Union, expressing concern over the housing situation, has urged the German government to uphold tenant rights more firmly, given the ongoing dispute between the real estate firm and the Berlin Tenants' Association. Despite the European Union's call, the Mitte district administration, led by Stefanie Remlinger, has been navigating a complex situation, balancing tenant concerns and the need for development within the European Union's broader economic framework.
