Editing Alexanderplatz (section)

==Today and future plans==
Despite the reconstruction of the [[Berlin Straßenbahn|tram]] line crossing, it has retained its socialist character, including the much-[[graffiti]]ed {{ill|Fountain of Friendship between Peoples|de|Brunnen_der_Völkerfreundschaft_(Berlin)|}}, a popular venue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2019 |title=Berlin, Germany Historic Trail |url=https://www.tac-bsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Berlin.pdf |access-date=October 10, 2024 |website=tac-bsa.org}}</ref>

{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} is reputedly the most visited area of Berlin, beating [[Friedrichstraße|Friedrichstrasse]] and [[City West]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.alexanderplatz.de/|title=Hines – Berlin Alexanderplatz – Berlins meistbesuchte Destination| website=www.alexanderplatz.de|access-date=2019-01-24}}</ref>  It is a popular starting point for tourists, with many attractions including the {{lang|de|[[Fernsehturm Berlin|Fernsehturm]]}} (TV tower), the [[Nikolaiviertel|Nikolai Quarter]] and the {{lang|de|[[Rotes Rathaus]]|italic=no}} ('Red City Hall') situated nearby. {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} is still one of Berlin's major commercial areas, housing various [[shopping mall]]s, [[department store]]s and other large retail locations.

Many historic buildings are located in the vicinity of {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}. The traditional seat of city government, the {{lang|de|[[Rotes Rathaus]]}}, or 'Red City Hall', is located nearby, as was the former East German parliament building, the {{lang|de|[[Palast der Republik]]|italic=no}}. The {{lang|de|Palast}} was demolished from 2006–2008 to make room for a full reconstruction of the Baroque [[Berlin Palace]], or {{lang|de|Stadtschloss}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,594515,00.html |title=The New Palace: Neo-Baroque in Berlin |date=4 December 2008 |access-date=17 August 2018 |newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/finally-berlin-has-its-palace-again/a-45176364 |title=Finally – Berlin has its palace again! |date=23 August 2018 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref>

{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} is also the name of the [[Berlin Alexanderplatz railway station|S-Bahn]] and [[Alexanderplatz (Berlin U-Bahn)|U-Bahn]] stations there. It is one of Berlin's largest and most important transportation hubs, being a meeting place of three subway ({{lang|de|U-Bahn|italic=no}}) lines, three {{lang|de|S-Bahn|italic=no}} lines, and many tram and bus lines, as well as regional trains.

It also accommodates the [[Park Inn Berlin]] and the [[World Clock (Alexanderplatz)|World Time Clock]], a continually rotating installation that shows the time throughout the globe, the [[House of Travel]], and {{lang|de|[[Hermann Henselmann]]|italic=no}}'s {{lang|de|[[Haus des Lehrers]]}} (House of Teachers)'.
[[File:Alexanderplatz Berlin April 2020.jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} on April 11th 2020 at 18:28 during [[COVID-19 lockdowns|COVID-19 lockdown]] in Berlin ]]
Long-term plans exist for the demolition of the {{convert|125|m|ft|adj=on}} high former {{lang|de|Interhotel Stadt Berlin|italic=no}} (now the Hotel Park-Inn), with the site to be replaced by three skyscrapers. If and when this plan will be implemented is unclear, especially since the hotel tower received a new façade as recently as in 2005, and the occupancy rates of the hotel are very good. However, the plans could give way in the next few years to a suggested {{convert|35|m|ft|adj=on}} high new block conversion. The previous main tenant of the development, Saturn, moved into the {{lang|de|die mitte}} building in March 2009. In 2014, [[Primark]] opened a branch inside the hotel building.

The majority of the planned {{convert|150|m|ft|adj=on}} high skyscrapers will probably never be built. The state of Berlin has announced that it will not enforce the corresponding urban development contracts against the market. Of the 13 planned skyscrapers, 10 remained as of 2008, after modifications to the plans – eight of which had construction rights.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Die Riesen kommen kleckerweise|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/alexanderplatz-die-riesen-kommen-kleckerweise/1308972.html|access-date=2020-09-08|newspaper=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|date=25 August 2008|language=de}}</ref> Some investors in the Alexa shopping centre announced several times since 2007 that they would sell their respective shares in the plot to an investor interested in building a high-rise building.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hein|first=Rainer L.|date=2008-04-17|title=Riesenhochhaus: 150-Meter-Wolkenkratzer wird am Alex gebaut|work=DIE WELT|url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/berlin/article1913007/150-Meter-Wolkenkratzer-wird-am-Alex-gebaut.html|access-date=2020-09-08}}</ref>

The first concrete plans for the construction of a high-rise were made by Hines, the investor behind die mitte. In 2009, the construction of a {{convert|150|m|adj=on}} high tower to be built behind die mitte was announced. On 12 September 2011, a slightly modified development plan was presented, which provided for a residential tower housing 400 apartments. In early 2013, the development plan was opened to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-02|title=Erster Wohnturm am Alexanderplatz in Berlin |url=http://www.rohmert-medien.de/news/erster-wohnturm-am-alexanderplatz-in-berlin,124525.html |access-date=2020-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202194256/http://www.rohmert-medien.de/news/erster-wohnturm-am-alexanderplatz-in-berlin,124525.html |archive-date=2014-02-02}}</ref>

In autumn 2015, the Berlin Senate organized two forums in which interested citizens could express their opinions on the proposed changes to the {{lang|de|Platz}}. Architects, city planners and Senate officials held open discussions. On that occasion, however, it was reiterated that the plans for high-rise developments were not up for debate. According to the master plan of the architect {{lang|de|[[Hans Kollhoff]]|italic=no}}, up to eleven huge buildings will continue to be built, which will house a mixture of shops and apartments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bürgerdialog in Berlin: Zacken und Flügel am Fernsehturm |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/buergerdialog-in-berlin-zacken-und-fluegel-am-fernsehturm-li.6330 |access-date=2020-09-08 |website=[[Berliner Zeitung]] |language=de-DE }}</ref>