Bern: Fambau may demolish building in Tscharnergut
The Fellerstrase 30 building in the Tscharnergut high-rise development in Bern-Betlehem can be demolished. The Fambau cooperative wants to build a new building there.
The governor of Bern-Mittelland, Christoph Lerch, has granted Fambau Genossenschaft permission to demolish the property. After weighing up the public interest in preserving the building against the private interest in demolition, he stated that there was no overriding need for protection.
The building at Fellerstrasse 30, together with Fellerstrasse 40, 50 and 56, is listed in a separate object sheet in the cantonal building inventory of the city of Bern as being worthy of protection; they are part of the Tscharnergut building group. The Fambau cooperative wants to demolish the building and replace it with a new one. This was opposed by the Berner Heimatschutz and the City of Bern's monument preservation authorities.
However, the government governor came to the conclusion that the building could not be rented out to cover costs after a minimal refurbishment. Fambau would not be able to finance the next renovation of the supporting structure, which would be due after 30 years, with the rental income. Public law reasons would also speak in favor of demolition, as the new building would offer contemporary living space, the regulations on earthquake safety and fire protection would be better complied with and the building would be free of obstacles, according to the government governor. (ah)
