In sourn Brandenburg a complete village has been auctioned. The only bidder received surcharge for 140,000 euros for town of Alwine, located approximately 100 km south of Berlin. The minimum bid was 125,000 euros. 15 people live in Alwine. Many of approximately ten residential buildings are in need of refurbishment or decay. There are also several outbuildings and ten sheds and garages on an area of about 16,000 square meters.

The settlement in Elbe-Elster district, which was located in a forest, was once part of a nearby coal briquette factory. After turn factory was closed, many young inhabitants Alwines moved away. In year 2000, two brors bought village at symbolic price of a D-mark. After death of one of two, it now came to auction.

She has organized Berlin auction house Karhausen AG. The board member Matthias Knake said after auction that bidder had made purchase "for benefit of inhabitants" and wanted to "do something Good". The buyer comes from Berlin and soon wants to meet with mayor, he said furr. In total re were several interested parties according to Knake. However, most of buildings were quickly removed from a purchase due to considerable need for refurbishment.

"Sometimes have some luck"

The honorary mayor of neighbouring Domsdorf, Peter Kroll, was optimistic after auction. "We hope for positives," he said in Berlin. For predominantly older inhabitants of village it is " most important" that buildings are now rehabilitated and again "habitable and livable", Kroll said.

According to a report by Süddeutsche Zeitung, auctioneer Knake had tried before auction to take care of villagers before moving because of possibly increasing rents. "Every real estate investor is happy when he has residents who live in such an object," Knake told newspaper. As a result, buildings are better protected from vandalism. "We are expecting a buyer who is gradually rehabilitating Alwine," said Knake.

Auction-a village for 125,000 euro settlement of Alwine in southwest of Brandenburg has seen better days. Now village, which was once a pair of brors for a symbolic D-mark, is to change hands at an auction in Berlin. © Photo: Patrick Pleul/DPA

Alwine is part of municipality of Uebigau-Wahrenbrück. Their mayor Andreas Claus criticized RBB previous owners before auction for ir inaction. "Here since purchase by owners almost nothing has happened," said Claus to broadcaster. "The rent was collected, but very little was done to change life situation of people." Now he wishes residents that y "have some luck" and that someone comes, "considers property as a responsibility and not only tries to pull out money here – especially among people who already have little," said Claus.

Date Of Update: 10 December 2017, 12:03