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The US Army's McNair barracks in the south-west of Berlin are being converted into a luxury housing complex after being empty for over a decade.The US army's McNair barracks in Berlin's south west have been idle since 1994 when American soldiers left the city following the German capital's historic reunification.
This left Berlin city authorities in a quandary about what to do with the facility.
Now, a Berlin property firm, S+P Real Estate GmbH, together with an American investor, is to invest 70 million euros (91 million dollars) to transform the 600-metre-long premises in the city's Zehlendorf district into upmarket apartments. Work on the project is scheduled to start early next year.
A home away from home
For decades after World War II the McNair Barracks was home to three permanently assigned US army battalions.
Thousands of American servicemen were billeted at the barracks during the city's post-war division into four military zones based on the victorious allied powers.
Now, the former US army barracks is to receive a new name - Monroe Park - after Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe. The barracks were named after Lieutenant General Leslie J. McNair who was put in charge of mobilizing and training US Army ground forces after America's entry into the Second World War.
Additionally, the investors are seeking permission to have a boulevard at the McNair Barracks site called Billy Wilder Street, in a tribute to the late popular Austrian-born film director who had worked for a spell as a journalist in the city in the 1920s.
Rented out
Built in the late 1930s, the huge complex was originally used as a manufacturing facility. During the war, military equipment was manufactured at the complex.
For decades after the war the German government, on behalf of the US government, paid the owners of the site a yearly rental for its use as an army barracks.
The Berlin architects firm Tchoban, which designed Europe's tallest office block in Moscow, has been commissioned to handle the conversion project. The McNair Barracks was given a heritage listing during the early 1990's.
Why would anyone choose to live in a former army barracks? "Our project offers considerable upmarket housing advantages," said Berlin investor Udo Schloemer.
The building complex, shaped like a giant fireside fender, will contain apartments ranging from 60 to 260 square metres in size, with designer kitchens, parquet floors, and other quality fixtures.
29 November 2006
Copyright DPA with Expatica 2006
Subject: Monroe Park, McNair Barracks, German property, property in Germany, Berlin real estate, real estate in Berlin
I do not think that turning Historic Army Barracks into an apartmant complex is fair or just; the barracks should be made into a muesum to teach our posterity about WWII and the Cold War. Although it would make a good place for housing since the barracks were very nice i think it is unfair to all the veterns that were there.
Inform who ever that during the conversion to housing, if they see any hand painted wall murals by Robert Klett, that artist is me! McNair Barracks was my home from 1968 to 1970.
In most part I agree with the one reaction you received, but I also realize over time situations change and the consequence of that is I feel another part of history will be gone.
I was with C battery 94th Artillery which was housed in building 1024B I served from 1963 untill 1966 we had the most beautiful murals on the walls I wonder if anyone has photos that they would share GI's came from all over just to see our great looking mess hall
I do not think that turning Historic Army Barracks into an apartmant complex is fair or just; the barracks should be made into a muesum to teach our posterity about WWII and the Cold War. Although it would make a good place for housing since the barracks were very nice i think it is unfair to all the veterns that were there.
Inform who ever that during the conversion to housing, if they see any hand painted wall murals by Robert Klett, that artist is me! McNair Barracks was my home from 1968 to 1970.
In most part I agree with the one reaction you received, but I also realize over time situations change and the consequence of that is I feel another part of history will be gone.
I was with C battery 94th Artillery which was housed in building 1024B I served from 1963 untill 1966 we had the most beautiful murals on the walls I wonder if anyone has photos that they would share GI's came from all over just to see our great looking mess hall
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