Struggles Over a Crumbling Beauty: The War for Warschauer Straße 25
First Refusal Opportunity on a Property with a Potentially Known Cult Balcony on Warsaw Street
In the trendy neighborhood of Friedrichshain, the rundown building on Warschauer Straße 25 reigns as a well-snapped photo spot. The signature wooden balcony and tall columns make it a beloved backdrop, but the structure also hints at the building's desperate need for a facelift—and it's up for sale. The district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is pondering whether it can snatch the property using its municipal pre-emption right.
Initially, the corner house and seven others were sold together, but only this one building triggers the city's potential intervention. After an in-depth assessment of the building's condition, the city found that the existing flaws surpass the significant threshold as determined by the Federal Administrative Court guidelines. This means that the district may step in and facilitate the sale to a third party focused on the greater good—a ruling from November 2021 has narrowed down the instances when this can occur, such as in cases of dilapidated buildings.
The locals describe the house as "one of the last bastions of affordable living space in the heart of Berlin." Claudia Winkler-Görbe, a resident of 33 years, fears the impact of the sale. Like other residents, she dreads skyrocketing rents, eviction, and the loss of her lifelong home. "Imagine if 27 rental parties are relentlessly scouring the Berlin housing market for an apartment," she muses to "nd."
The thought of finding a new abode isn't the only worry eating away at the residents. "We're not just close-knit housemates, we're a tightly bound community," Winkler-Görbe emphasizes. In times of need, neighbors regularly lent a helping hand—from sharing resources during a month-long water crisis to welcoming each other as new homeowners. However, the potential destruction of their community that's flourished for decades looms if a new owner decides to take over and renovate the building.
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The state of the building, qualifying it for district intervention over the pre-emption right, presents its own set of challenges. A third-party buyer would need a substantial investment to bring the apartments up to snuff. Some living spaces still harbor relics from the past, like coal stoves and outdoor toilets, and the building has been frozen in time since the '90s. To tackle these issues humanely, funding would be crucial.
Despite decades of vacancies, the vast proportion of empty apartments remains unchanged. Nearly a third of the living spaces remain untouched, reports district building councilor Florian Schmidt in a press release. Long-time resident Winkler-Görbe recalls instances where vacancies have gone unfilled since she moved in.
The predicament of the neglected building has the district brainstorming innovative solutions. "The property holds the potential to accomplish several objectives of the city of Berlin through its vacancy," Schmidt says. The district office plans to develop a strategy for social management of the buildings in the coming weeks, collaborating with cooperation partners and the Senate. "Providers who offer Housing First or apprentice housing concepts within the framework of unlimited rental agreements at local rents are invited to reach out to the district office to explore potential collaborations."
"The goals of the preservation right can be aligned with those of social housing in this model case," Schmidt adds, expressing hope for broad support for this inventive, budget-friendly approach. With the deadline to implement this ambitious project set for June 9, the residents are not content to merely watch and wait. Regular meetings are underway to discuss their next steps, and they've scheduled a demonstration this coming Saturday at 1 pm to bring attention to their predicament.
- In light of the building's poor condition, the city may consider intervening to facilitate a sale to a third party focused on renovating the property and ensuring the continuation of affordable housing in the neighborhood, as discussed in the advice given by the Federal Administrative Court in November 2021.
- As the potential sale of Warschauer Straße 25 could significantly impact the community, residents are actively seeking innovative solutions, such as collaborating with providers who offer social housing or Housing First initiatives, to preserve their communal living space and safeguard their long-term residency in the building.
