Evacuation Ordered: Apartment Building in Schoeneberg Faces Imminent Collapse, Warn Police
In the heart of Berlin's Schoeneberg district, an apartment building on Grunewaldstraße was evacuated on Thursday, 11th April, following a structural engineer's identification of the building as being at risk of collapse.
The evacuation was ordered by the police after the engineer's report, which was later reported on the RBB evening broadcast. Part of the street between Hauptstraße and Goltzstraße has been closed off for safety reasons.
Nine apartments, located in the building on Grunewaldstraße, were evacuated as a result of the identified risk. Heimstaden Germany GmbH, the property company that owns the building, has promised to provide alternative accommodation for the evacuated families if they cannot stay with friends or family.
The structural problems with the building have been known for a long time, but the causes have not yet been clarified. Heimstaden has been monitoring visible cracks in the building's structure since December 2023. The builder who owns the Schöneberg High-rise on Grunewaldstraße with known structural problems since December 2023 has not been identified in the available search results.
Eva Majewski (CDU), District Councillor for the area, has expressed shock that Heimstaden has apparently known about the problem for years. She stated, "This is the first time I've heard that the problem has been known for years."
The apartment building evacuation was reported by Berliner Morgenpost. The company has not yet specified how long the apartments will be unavailable. The closure of part of the street between Hauptstraße and Goltzstraße is due to safety concerns related to the apartment building on Grunewaldstraße.
The evacuation marks a significant event in the Schoeneberg district, underscoring the importance of regular building inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of its residents. The investigation into the causes of the structural problems with the building on Grunewaldstraße continues.
