Compulsory Auction of Berlin’s Spreepark Failed

On 3 July the around 29 hectare large area of Berlin’s Spreepark should have been sold by auction by the district court of Berlin-Köpenick (cp. EAP news from 7 May 2013). The market value of the neglected area, which is based on building lease, amounts to 1.62 million Euros as determined by the court. Unpaid claims of the tax office should have been paid with the proceeds of the sale. But according to the district court’s own information, none of the bids were accepted, meaning that the compulsory auction has failed for the time being. It was cancelled on 3 July by the tax authorities of Treptow-Köpenick which had issued the proceedings itself as creditor. The tax office hopes to get back at least a part of the sum the former building lease owner owes it. It had already filed for the auction in 2008. The reasons for the cancellation were not given at first. Lastly the current offer of the state-owned Liegenschaftsfonds Projektgesellschaft of 2.48 million Euros was surpassed by a private investor … Berlin media reports speculate about the possibility that doubts as to the creditworthiness of the investor could be the reason. The cards are being reshuffled now. (eap)