Heading off to peruse the shelves at the library
Here's the scoop, let's dive right in. Galeria department store might just stay open during refurbishments at Alexanderplatz, which is a win for its workers and Berlin's Senator for Economics, Franziska Giffey (SPD). She's been advocating for a building renovation by Commerz Real AG to happen concurrently with business-as-usual operations.
Originally, Galeria wanted to shutter the store by the end of this year, but they've extended the lease until 2026. If they manage to undergo renovations while keeping the doors open, they'd secure their position at Alexanderplatz.
However, the question remains if this is truly good news, as it depends on the available space. If Galeria shrinks to roughly 12,600 square meters as rumored, they'd slash their size by two-thirds. In that case, they'd be more of a smaller department store...or, as some quip, a larger convenience store.
Rumors of a ZLB and Galeria settlement? According to the Berliner Morgenpost, a potential solution for the Central and Regional Library (ZLB) to relocate to the Galeria building at Alexanderplatz is emerging. The preferred location for the ZLB on Friedrichstraße, suggested by former Culture Senator Jo Chialo (CDU), is seemingly off the table. "The train has left the station," the Mopo quotes Mitte's construction senator, Ephraim Gothe (SPD). Commerz Real AG, the Galeria building's investor at Alex, seems to be courting the ZLB, with a reported accommodation for the ZLB in the stripped-down Galeria space.
The ZLB currently occupies 36,000 square meters, but by the future, it could only have 12,600. The rest of the space would be up for grabs by the ZLB. Additionally, the Mopo reports that the department store won't have to move during renovations, a request that was endorsed by Economy Senator Franziska Giffey (SPD). The estimated funding for relocation, ranging from 700 million to 1.2 billion euros, hasn't been determined yet.
The remaining space in the existing building and the high-rise under construction could then be utilized by the Central and Regional Library. The investor who bought the property from René Benko appears to be driving this development. Apparently, there's already a proposed distribution of space between ZLB and Galeria on the table.
The Political Silence
The silence from the Senate administrations for Economy, Finance, and Culture suggests that a solution is still elusive. This is likely due to the hefty costs associated with moving the ZLB to Alexanderplatz – somewhere in the ballpark of 700 million to 1.2 billion euros – a sum that Berlin might struggle to unearth, potentially diverting funds from other projects as necessary.
Chatting about an agreement on the ZLB would therefore be premature at this stage. It seems more likely that Commerz Real has thrust itself back into the limelight. However, their position hasn't significantly improved, as the preferred location on Friedrichstraße is no longer accessible, as confirmed by the district of Mitte.
In the midst of the rumored settlement between the ZLB and Galeria, policy-and-legislation plays a crucial role, as the hefty costs associated with moving the ZLB might lead to diverting funds from other projects, a concern raised by the Senate administrations for Economy, Finance, and Culture. The ongoing politics of this issue is not only about the potential relocation of the ZLB to the Galeria building at Alexanderplatz, but also the future size of Galeria itself, which could be reduced by two-thirds, converting it into a smaller department store or even a larger convenience store. General-news outlets, such as the Berliner Morgenpost, are closely monitoring the development of this situation to provide updates on the evolving politics and the future of these well-known establishments.
