#331: Crooks with explosives, No more Kaufhof at Alex, BVG price increase

What is that abandoned building in Steglitz?

Help if someone needs it (see factoid). Photo: Berliner Stadtmission

Dear 20 Percent,

If you’re one of our American readers, I hope you voted. That is, if you voted for Harris-Walz (I believe in democracy so I’m just kidding. Sort of.)

Tuesday is the big day where the US either gets the return of the biggest bro on the planet or a continuation of sane politics. I realize “sane politics” is an oxymoron but I don’t want to see the further erosion of women’s healthcare and environmental policies in the US, to name a few of my concerns.

But after the election is before the election — so we’ll be watching to determine how the outcome of the US vote will affect Germany’s national elections in September — hopefully I’ll be able to vote in that election too.

I’ll be on some Die Zeit livestream at 11.30pm on election night talking US politics. Mostly I’ll be saying I’m nervous. I’m not sure where it’ll be so I’ll have Maurice include a link in Tuesday’s edition.

Have a good weekend y’all!

Andrew

PS: Please do check out our sponsor Ostrom. Green power, all-online, all-English! More from them below.

Cash machine bombers? (probably)

Two men fled across the train tracks and left a bag full of explosives at S-Bahnhof Neukölln Wednesday afternoon after police tried to perform a random search, according to RBB24. The 500 grams of the explosive TTAP were detonated in the nearby Thomashöhe park. Detectives were able to identify the men from CCTV video as criminals who have previously used explosives to access cash stored in ATMs, according to Tagesspiegel. One of the suspects dropped a Polish ID while fleeing but it turned out to be stolen. The RBB story includes photos of the detonation as well as the explosives and a bomb-like device in the man’s bag.

Public transport is getting more expensive (again)

In Berlin’s own version of Groundhog Day, the VBB Berlin-Brandenburg public transport association will likely increase the price of public transport tickets by an average of 7.5%, Jan. 1, according to news agency dpa. It increased prices by a similar 6.7% at the start of this year. An AB ticket will climb to €3.80 from €3.50 and my fave four-trip ticket to €11.60 from €10.80, to name just a few. Sassy commentators like to point out that a monthly AB ticket costs but €29 but it’s likely to climb to €33 to €35 Jan. 1, an at-least 20% bump. Deutschlandticket, you say? It’s going up to €58 per month Jan. 1, an 18% increase. Service detoriorates, prices climb.

Kaufhof at Alex will be no more (maybe)

The Galeria Kaufhof department store at Alexanderplatz will close at the end of 2025 for renovations and it’s unclear if the beleaguered chain will return to the site, according to Morgenpost (paywall). The last renovation, in 2006, expanded the store and disappointingly demolished an East German-era facade that had reigned over Alex since the Central department store opened there in 1970. If Kaufhof returns, it will be as a slimmer version since department stores have suffered as consumers turn to specialty retailers and online. The building will likely become multi-use and is being considered as a new site for Berlin’s ZLB central library — the government is also mulling moving the library to the former Galeries Lafayette site on Friedrichstraße.

📯📯 Postkutsche 📯📯

Reader Travis sent us the above pic and asked: Everyday I drive by this tower in Steglitz taking my son to school and wonder why it wasn’t finished.

For years I’ve wondered if I should write about the building as yet another example of Germany’s apparent incompetence with over-sized construction sites. Officially it’s known as the Steglitzer Kreisel, or Steglitz Toy Top, and it was owned and used until 2007 by the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf — the canteen on the 27th floor had a crazy view. But then asbestos was discovered throughout the building and the borough bailed, according to Morgenpost. Steglitz-Zehlendorf worked to remove the harmful substance while we all still continued to buy sleeping bags and tents at the Globetrotter camping store in the foot of the building — the store is now also gone. The Kreisel was sold to a real estate investor in 2017 who promised to build luxury apartments — and reportedly sold half of the flats, which were supposed to be complete by about 2020. The scaffolding went up and then nothing much happened. The real estate investor has since been bought by the Adler Group, who has told buyers their flats won’t be complete until 2026, at the earliest — half of the buyers have bailed and it’s unclear if the project will ever be complete. Adler is trying to sell it. Ironically the original construction was equally problematic — planning started in 1968 but wasn’t complete until 1980 after government intervention and a 10-fold cost increase.

🍺 🥨 Germany-wide news 🥨 🍺

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👴 SPD seeking reconciliation with douchey former chancellor Schröder

👟 Adidas and Kanye end relationship, legal battle over antisemitism

Factoid

The Kältebus, or winter homeless shuttle, turned 30 today as volunteers returned to the streets to help homeless people avoid freezing winter temperatures. The bus was launched by the Berliner Stadtmission in 1994 after a homeless man froze to death — the next night employees set out in a VW bus to ensure there wouldn’t be a second death. If you see someone you fear might suffer from winter temps, you can reach the bus at 030 690 333 690 but they say you should make sure the person wants their help first. If you find someone unresponsive, call 112 instead. The bus is out from 8pm to 2am every night from Nov. 1 to March 31.

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