The architectural office Gewers Pudewill designed a green inner courtyard for the complex Photo: SIGNA Real Estate Management Germany GmbH
By Stephen Peter
The Signa company advertises its project on Franklinstraße (Charlottenburg) as an eco-new building. But now it comes out: Several trees were felled illegally on the construction site!
Green terraces, electricity from a photovoltaic system and niches for birds and insects – this is how environmentally friendly the “Glance” office and commercial building on the banks of the Spree should be. At least that’s what the investor Signa promises – the company was founded by the extremely controversial Ösi billionaire René Benko (45).
Five trees fewer: illegal felling was done on the Signa construction site Photo: Charlottenburg District Office
But how seriously does Signa really take environmental protection?
It was agreed with the district office of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf that only two out of five ornamental apple trees may be felled in the front garden area of the new building. During an inspection of the construction site, officials discovered that all the trees fell victim to the ax!
In addition, containers and silos were placed on the tree areas – although there was no approval from the district office. The result: administrative offense proceedings against builders and construction companies, as well as a report to the police. Especially bold: all the trees did not belong to the investor, but to the state of Berlin!
Signa claims: “The executing construction company made the felling by mistake,” said a company spokesman for the BZ
He promises: “Of course we will replace the three trees that were felled by mistake with larger and ecologically more sensible trees in the same place. In addition, the district will also receive a compensation payment for the additional planting of trees.