Berlin Wall cut to size to build route to skyscraper!
29 March 2013 8:11 AM IST
Work crews backed by about 250 police personnel removed parts of the Berlin Wall known as the ‘East Side Gallery’ before dawn on Thursday to make way for an upscale building project, despite demands that the site be preserved.
Residents of the area expressed shock at the move, which followed several protests including one attended by American celebrity David Hasselhoff.
Police spokesman Alexander Toennies said there were no incidents as work began about 5 A.M. to remove four sections of the wall, each about 1.2m wide. That will make way for an access route to the planned high-rise luxury apartments along the nearby Spree River.
The East Side Gallery is the longest remaining stretch of Berlin Wall. Construction workers removed a first piece earlier this month as part of a plan to make a road to a new luxury apartment complex. The public outcry brought a halt while local politicians and the investor said they were looking for a solution to keep the rest of the wall untouched. The investor, Maik Uwe Hinkel, decided to remove four more 1.2M wide parts of the wall, according to Toennies. Plans to remove part of the 1.3km stretch of wall sparked protests accusing the developers of sacrificing history for profit.
Residents of the area expressed shock at the move, which followed several protests including one attended by American celebrity David Hasselhoff.
Police spokesman Alexander Toennies said there were no incidents as work began about 5 A.M. to remove four sections of the wall, each about 1.2m wide. That will make way for an access route to the planned high-rise luxury apartments along the nearby Spree River.
The East Side Gallery is the longest remaining stretch of Berlin Wall. Construction workers removed a first piece earlier this month as part of a plan to make a road to a new luxury apartment complex. The public outcry brought a halt while local politicians and the investor said they were looking for a solution to keep the rest of the wall untouched. The investor, Maik Uwe Hinkel, decided to remove four more 1.2M wide parts of the wall, according to Toennies. Plans to remove part of the 1.3km stretch of wall sparked protests accusing the developers of sacrificing history for profit.
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