Move of ZLB - Chialo: Offer for purchase price of Quarter 207
A possible move of the Berlin Central and State Library (ZLB) to Friedrichstraße could cost less than previously thought, according to statements by Cultural Senator Joe Chialo (CDU). The estimated 589 million Euro budget is "already outdated," Chialo said at a conversation event at the Academy of Arts in Berlin. "We are definitely below that." In the Quartier 207 building complex at Friedrichstraße, the luxury department store Galeries Lafayette is located, which is scheduled to close at the end of July.
However, one should not juggle with numbers when negotiating, Chialo said. Since talks are still ongoing, he did not want to provide further details. In September 2023, Chialo presented the first offer for the purchase price of Quartier 207 in the cultural committee of the Berlin House of Representatives. The costs for the building purchase and the library's move were said to have amounted to around 589 million Euro at that time. The building owner - the US company Tishman Speyer - reportedly submitted the first purchase price offer, which consisted of the land value, building value, and financing.
For the ZLB, a new location has been sought for years. The two locations at Blücherplatz in Kreuzberg and in Breiten Straße in Mitte have become too small and require urgent renovation. Chialo has expressed his support for Quartier 207 for a long time, but has not only received approval for the proposal.
- Joe Chialo from the CDU mentioned that the estimated 589 million Euro budget for moving the Berlin Central and State Library (ZLB) to Friedrichstraße may be considerably lower than initially thought.
- At a recent event at the Academy of Arts in Berlin, Cultural Senator Joe Chialo stated that the Quartier 207 building complex on Friedrichstraße, which houses Galeries Lafayette, could potentially be a more affordable option for the ZLB's relocation.
- Joe Chialo presented the initial purchase price offer for Quartier 207 to the Berlin House of Representatives' cultural committee in September 2023, suggesting a cost of around 589 million Euro for the building purchase and the library's move.
- The luxury department store Galeries Lafayette, located in the Quartier 207 building complex, is set to close at the end of July, potentially opening up an opportunity for the ZLB to move into the space.
- Despite the potential cost savings, Joe Chialo emphasized the importance of careful financial decision-making, acknowledging that further negotiations and discussions are necessary before a final decision on the ZLB's relocation can be made.
