Berlinovo's Controversial Plan: Eight-Story Residential Complex Replaces Beloved 'Climate Island'
Berlinovo's plans to build an eight-story residential complex on the former garden plots on Wilmersdorfer Prinzregentenstraße have sparked debate. The project, set to include student housing, city living units, and a kindergarten, faces skepticism from locals who cherished the site's previous use as a social meeting place, known as the 'Climate Change Island'.
The 'Climate Change Island' project transformed abandoned allotment gardens into an urban nature and encounter space. It served as a social hub, hosting plenaries in the 'town hall' shed, once a beer garden. The project also involved insect counts and historical research about the nearby synagogue Prinzregentenstraße. Berlinovo's plans, however, do not consider alternative locations, as they can only build on land they own.
Weißpflug, a local figure, expresses doubt about Berlinovo's plans due to their past image-making and lack of transparency on rents. The construction company aims to start building in the first quarter of 2026, following a building application submission this month. While the creation of student housing near HWR is welcomed, discussions are held about extending the interim use of the land.
Berlinovo's plans for the Wilmersdorfer Prinzregentenstraße site include an eight-story building with 270 units and a kindergarten. The project, which aims to begin construction in 2026, faces skepticism due to the loss of the beloved 'Climate Change Island' and past concerns about Berlinovo's transparency. Despite this, the need for student housing is acknowledged, and discussions continue about the interim use of the land.
