It is probably Munich’s best-known renovation house, the property at Thalkirchner Strasse 80. Now the work in the listed building is on hold, initially for a week completely, since Thursday partially. The planning department has ordered a freeze on construction. The reason for this is violations of monument protection requirements, as a spokesman for the planning department reports on an SZ request. During the renovation, doors and door frames were recently torn out in vacant apartments. This resulted in a fine. The builder did not comment on this.
The property, built in 1879 next to the Old South Cemetery, consists of a front, middle and rear building with a good two dozen apartments. The rents were moderate for a long time and because there used to be several studios there, the property is often dubbed the “artist’s house”. Five tenants still live in the house, all in the back building. The house has been sold three times since 2016, the building freeze is the latest chapter in what seems like an endless back and forth, a refurbishment was started years ago but not finished. The owner at the time filed for bankruptcy last year. The city tried to buy the house. However, the Pronesta company, based in Feldafing on Lake Starnberg, was awarded the contract by the insolvency administrator. According to the purchase contract, the investor is said to have paid 22.5 million euros. The city’s bid is said to have been higher, but it still drew the short straw.
The manager declined to comment
Work on the house resumed shortly after the recent sale, reports a tenant. In July, residents noticed that internal doors in several vacant apartments had been disposed of and door frames had been broken out. Tenants documented this and informed the lower monument protection authority in the planning department. Employees of the authority visited the construction site and, according to a spokesman, ordered a construction freeze on July 20. According to the spokesman, the construction freeze was partially lifted on Thursday: the wet renovation in the basement may continue, but work above is still prohibited. Discussions will now be held with the client and the architect as to how the renovation can be continued while respecting monument protection.
In a short conversation with the SZ, the managing director of Pronesta said that he did not want to comment on the construction freeze and ended the call abruptly. He did not respond to written questions. “Innovative premium old buildings”: Pronesta uses this slogan to advertise. On the company side, the property at the Old South Cemetery is praised as a “defining individual monument”. “Pronesta”, promises the investor, “will be very happy to push ahead with the comprehensive renovation of the ensemble.”