Gröner Group: Building entrepreneur Christoph Gröner in an interview

Gröner Group: Building entrepreneur Christoph Gröner in an interview

Christoph Gröner, a renowned building contractor with a company headquarters in Berlin, has not realized any construction projects in the capital for two years. Before his commitment to the Social Democrats, he was a generous donor from the Berlin CDU. Gröner emphasizes that the rising property prices and not the construction costs represent the actual challenges for affordable living space. The construction costs are higher in other German cities such as Munich, but the property prices are more affordable compared to Berlin.

When Gröner started construction projects in Berlin in 2010, the property prices were still 700 euros per square meter. They rose ten times within 15 years. Nowadays, property costs make up the majority of rental costs in Berlin. Gröner criticizes that property speculators drive up the prices, which makes it difficult to realize affordable apartments.

Despite the potential for new housing in Berlin, Gröner has acted cautiously in recent years due to exploding property prices. He emphasizes that the purchasing power of the Berliners is not sufficient to cover the necessary rental prices and compensate for the property costs. This has prompted Gröner to shift his focus on locations outside of Berlin, where purchasing power and real estate prices are cheaper.

GRÖNER proposes to use unused areas more efficiently in Berlin, for example by building multi -storey buildings. It emphasizes the importance of quick building permits and developing a master plan for housing that excludes political ideologies. The lack of political willingness to cooperate is identified as an obstacle to the creation of living space. Gröner warns of the effects of lack of housing on social stability and appeals to a concerted action of all political parties to solve the apartment question in Berlin.