Spandau Joins the Berlin Districts with "Milieuschutz" Areas

The Spandau District Assembly has voted to have a rough screening performed to identify areas where looming rent increases are likely to push out existing tenants, gentrification.

According to the IVD Berlin-Brandenburg Spandau was the district with the highest rent increases lately. The average rent for "simple" neighborhoods is at 7.75 €/m²/month while Spandau remained one of the last three districts without "Milieuschutz".

The rough screening will start in September.

Zitadelle Spandau

Von Benutzer:sec11 - Fotografiert am 16.04.04, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23985521

Amongst the areas already seen as strong candidates to be included in the protection of "Milieuschutz" are Spandauer Neustadt and Wilhelmstadt to the north and south of the center Altstadt. Another area already discussed is the development "An der Kappe" with ca. 1,100 apartments.

Spandau City Hall

Von A.Savin (Wikimedia Commons · WikiPhotoSpace) - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22550225

We will keep our readers updated on the developments.

More information about the impact of the "Milieuschutz" on the property owners in the area youu can find here:

The Can Do and Can't Do Renovating Apartments in Certain Areas of Berlin

Upcoming "Milieuschutz" Areas in Moabit and Tiergarten

The Berlin-Mitte district council put the pressure up for “Milieuschutz”. In their last meeting before the summer break, the representatives demanded the district administration by resolution to identify the so-called observation areas Körner- and Lützowstraße in Tiergarten and Moabit the Lübecker Straße and the Thomasiusstraße and the Beussel district as “Milieuschutz” protection areas. Further to formally announce the dedication of the areas in order to apply the social conservation mechanisms as soon as possible. This means that homeowners must meet certain approval criteria for construction projects and take into account the rent index in the district.
The “Milieuschutz” is an urban and social instrument for avoiding displacement of the existing resident population also known as gentrification.
More information about the impact of the "Milieuschutz" on the property owners in the area youu can find here:

The Can Do and Can't Do Renovating Apartments in Certain Areas of Berlin

New Protected "Milieuschutz" Areas Coming Into Effect In Kreuzberg

Since 1. July 2018 the existing Mileuschutz area Hornstrasse in Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is extended on its eastern border.

In detail the new area comprises the residential areas of the neighbouring city hall block ("Rathausblock") between Obentraut- and Yorckstraße and from Mehringdamm to Großbeerenstraße. Also Block 153, defined between Obentrautstraße and Tempelhofer Ufer, Großbeeren- and Ruhlsdorfer Straße.

For the implications for the owners of apartments and apartment blocks in this area please see the article on our blog  Property Investment In Germany.

Neukölln – the chili pepper in Berlin’s melting pot, by Handelsblatt Global

The scruffy borough in Germany's capital – long the destination for poorer immigrants from Turkey and the Balkans – is gentrifying, but not nearly as fast as neighboring districts. And that's just fine, writes one of our editors, a former resident.

By

• John Blau

This is an interesting insight into one of the upcoming areas of Berlin. From immigrant culture to shabby chique there are many shades of life to be found here. The author had moved into the area and lived there for some time so his views have an authentic authority without eyes glazing over.

A recommended reading for locals, visitors and those interested in Berlin.

https://global.handelsblatt.com/opinion/neukoelln-chili-pepper-berlin-melting-pot-941439

Every Major Publication Now Has To Have A Property Ranking

It seems like every main media publication now has to have a price ranking for property prices and rents. Some cover the entire country and some break it down to districts within boroughs of the main cities.

Berlin Property Prices

Here is an example from the weekly publication Wirtschaftswoche which lists areas in five price categories:

• very reasonable city districts - average 2,372 €/m²
• reasonable city districts - average 2,682 €/m²
• middle priced districts - average 2,904 €/m²
• expensive districts - average 3,434 €/m²
• very expensive districts - average 4,415 €/m²

Here is the list for "very expensive districts: 3,750 to 5,870 €/m² in increasing order:

Alt-Treptow, Plänterwald, Wannsee, Charlottenburg, Friedenau, Wilmersdorf, Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Hansaviertel, Moabit, Schmargendorf, Friedrichshain, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Halensee, Kreuzberg, Grunewald, Dahlem, Tiergarten

*Data based on condos of 75 m²

The full list of all price categories is available in German on Wirtschaftswoche.

The Berlin District Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Is About To Get Their First Two "Milieuschutz" Areas

In July 2017 the local council of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf had published the plan to declare the first two gentrification protected  "Milieuschutz" areas.for a period of 12 months any activity contradicting these plans can be denied. The district is now set to publicly declare the Milieuschutz for two areas:

Around Mierendorffplatz across the river Spree to the east of the Charlottenburg Castle.

"Mierendorff-Insel"

Full size

Around Gierkeplatz to the southwest from the castle south of Otto-Suhr-Allee.

"Gierkeplatz"

Full size

Further areas in Charlottenburg around Klausener Platz and in Wilmersdorf along Kurfürstenstrasse are currently discussed without any action taken yet.

For more information about the implications for a property owner see my articles:
The Can Do and Can't Do Renovating Apartments in Certain Areas of Berlin
Thinking About Dividing an Apartment Block into Condos in Berlin? What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

New Candidate Areas for "Milieuschutz" in Berlin Mitte

The Berlin district Mitte is considering to add more areas to the existing 5 “Milieuschutz” areas or to use the official title “Städtbauliche Erhaltungsgebiete”. A consortium of experts was instructed to look into areas that previously were suspected of being under pressure regarding modernizations and rent increases. The quarters (Kiez) under investigation are Soldiner Straße, Kattegatstraße, Reinickendorfer Straße and Humboldthain Nord-West.

Soldiner Straße, Berlin Wedding
By A.Savin (Wikimedia Commons · WikiPhotoSpace) [FAL or CC BY-SA 3.0
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

The study shows that a large proportion of the population in these areas are now in danger of being pushed out by rent increases. Over the last decades, significant public investment went into these areas to improve the quality of living. This has attracted higher income tenants which in turn raises the attention of property investors.

The apartment buildings in these areas have a high potential for modernisation followed by rent increases: e.g. half of the apartments don’t have a balcony, very few have a lift.

These four areas are to be closely monitored for activities leading to the actual decision by the local council. Once the decision for starting the process for the declaration of “Milieuschutz” is published, certain activities like Title Split can already be blocked.

For more information about the implications for a property owner see my articles:

The Can Do and Can't Do Renovating Apartments in Certain Areas of Berlin

Thinking About Dividing an Apartment Block into Condos in Berlin? What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Berlin's Newest Area Protected Against Gentrification is in Lichtenberg

The newest area for "Milieuschutz" is in Berlin-Lichtenberg, the first one in the district. While a research project in 2016 came to the conclusion that there is no pressure on the existing social structure and tenants are safe from gentrification a recent update of the data showed that more than 50% of the current tenants in the area are under threat of being pushed out by the price development. So the local council voted and passed a measure to protect a specific area from certain changes. The measure is known a "Milieuschutz" or more formally as "Erhaltungsgebiet" and was passed in the district assembly on 17.05.2018 which became effective a few days later with its publication. The area is called "Erhaltungsgebiet Weitlingstraße"

"Erhaltungsgebiet Weitlingstraße", Click for full size

For more information about the consequences for owners please view:
The Can Do and Can't Do Renovating Apartments in Certain Areas of Berlin

We are consulting owners on how to optimise their properties in protected areas.

Visit Berlin Mitte: Berlin's Most Central District Where History and Culture Meets Politics.

Visit Mitte: Explore Berlin’s history and culture in the German capital’s most central district

• Discover Berlin’s cultural treasures on Museum Island
• Visit iconic landmarks at the TV Tower and Brandenburg Gate 
• Walk through Berlin’s history in the city’s oldest neighbourhoods
• Explore the new creative scene in Mitte’s art galleries, design stores and fashion boutiques 

By Simon Clarke For Mailonline

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/destinations/article-5717391/guide-mitte-district-berlin.html

A Guide to Neukölln: Berlin’s most happening neighbourhood

Visit Neukölln: Cultural diversity, green spaces and hipster hangouts in Berlin’s most happening neighbourhood

• Browse the stalls at the twice-weekly Turkish Market
• Join the cool kids at Weserstraße’s studios, shops and bars
• Explore the wide expanses of Tempelhofer Feld – one-time airport turned park
• Grab a sundown drink above the rooftops at Klunkerkranich 

By Simon Clarke For Mailonline



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/destinations/article-5717675/Guide-Neuk-lln-district-Berlin.html