Authorities give green light for renovation of Görlitz department store

Another hurdle has been cleared in the planned renovation of the Görlitz department store. The State Directorate of Saxony, as the highest monument protection authority in the Free State, has now given the green light for the future so-called preliminary building permit. This gives the client planning security with a view to a later building permit.

Approval procedure can move forward

"It was not an easy decision. The experts in my office carefully examined everything, listened to the arguments of all parties involved and weighed them up against each other. The result now provides clarity," explained Béla Bélafi, President of the Regional Directorate. The decision can now be finalized and the approval process for the construction project can move forward.

The approval is subject to close cooperation with the monument protection authority of the city of Görlitz during the construction phase, it said. Monument-protected elements were to be taken into account as far as possible.

Use of the attic and structural details points of contention

The decision of the state directorate was necessary because the city of Görlitz, as the lower monument protection authority, and the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments had differing opinions on the approval of the preliminary building application. This concerned the use of the two attic floors and structural details of the roof construction.

The public interest in the conversion and revitalization of the department store outweighed the interest under monument protection law, it was said. "Activating and preserving the cultural monument is more important than allowing the building to remain dormant and fall into disrepair," emphasized Bélafi. Planned changes would not significantly affect the original character of the cultural monument.

Department store to be a magnet for inner-city retail again

The Mayor of Görlitz, Octavian Ursu (CDU), expressed his relief. "It is particularly important for our city that the department store is being renovated and revitalized. The decision by the state directorate is an important step towards pressing ahead with the plans for the refurbishment and thereby re-establishing the building as a magnet for inner-city retail in the heart of our city."

The department store, which opened in 1913, was last part of the Hertie department store chain and closed in 2009. In 2013, the medical practitioner and businessman Winfried Stöcker acquired the building. The Art Nouveau building is one of the last examples of department store architecture from the beginning of the 20th century. With a painted glass dome and an atrium surrounded by sales galleries on three floors, the imposing building has been largely preserved in its original state.

Görlitz department store has repeatedly served as a film set

In recent years, the vacant department store has repeatedly been the backdrop for various film productions. In 2013, for example, the monument was transformed into the eponymous hotel for the later Oscar-winning production "The Grand Budapest Hotel". US director Wes Anderson spent weeks filming in Görlitz with international stars such as Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Adrien Brody and Jeff Goldblum.