Berlin-Pankow to Fell 200-Year-Old Oak for Eleven New Apartments

A 200-year-old oak tree on Schloßallee in the Berlin district of Niederschönhausen (Pankow) is facing felling after the Bezirksamt Pankow granted permission to remove it as of 1 October 2026, to allow construction of a residential building containing eleven apartments. The decision has triggered strong local opposition: by the time of the Berliner Zeitung report, 1,178 residents had already signed a petition calling for the tree's preservation. Critics argue that a tree of such age and scale is irreplaceable and that its removal sets a troubling precedent for prioritising housing construction over mature urban green infrastructure. Supporters of the felling argue that Berlin's severe housing shortage requires difficult trade-offs. The case illustrates a tension running through many Berlin districts between the urgent need for new residential construction and the protection of historic natural landmarks in established neighbourhoods. The article was published on 21 October 2026 as the permitted felling window had already opened.