Activists occupy Trondheim house slated for demolition

Activists have occupied a house in Trondheim’s Svartlamon district to prevent its demolition, NRK reported. The building at Strandveien 23 was due to be handed over by Trondheim Municipality to railway company Bane Nor, which plans to demolish it to build a double track on the Trønderbanen railway.

The occupation was announced on social media by Ivar Matlaus book café. The activists said they wanted to preserve a historic building that meant a great deal to many people.

“When you look at the plans, there would not have been a need to demolish this to carry out the work on the railway line,” one activist told NRK. The activists, who wished to remain anonymous, urged the developers to examine alternatives.

Svartlamon is an alternative district in central Trondheim, where about 300 people live with low rents and a housing standard below what is usual. The activists said the building had been home to both children and adults and that residents wanted it to remain standing.

They described the occupation as one step in a wider struggle over the district, saying parts of Østbyen were being taken “step by step”.

Trondheim finance councillor Lars Magnussen said the municipality was in dialogue with Bane Nor over who was responsible for dealing with the occupation, which began as the building was being handed over.

“We need to discuss who will take the necessary measures and who is responsible for carrying out an eviction from the building,” Magnussen said. He expected the issue to be resolved relatively quickly and said it would then become a police matter.

Magnussen said the municipality had made extensive efforts to reach good solutions with the local community and that the planned railway and station improvements now needed to go ahead.

Police told NRK they had not been informed about the occupation.

Alexander Mosbakk, project director for Bane Nor’s Mid and North region, said the occupation would delay the demolition. He said the company would work through the relevant authorities to resolve the situation.

Mosbakk said Bane Nor had not received the keys from the municipality. The parties were due to discuss the next steps at a meeting the following day. The keys had originally been scheduled for delivery the previous Friday.

Former residents said other solutions could allow two trains per hour on the Trønderbanen without demolishing the building. Mosbakk said Bane Nor had examined options to preserve all or parts of Strandveien 23, but that reports and building surveys showed it would not be safe to leave the structure standing.

He said he understood the frustration of residents who had been forced to move out earlier in the year, but added that the building had to be demolished for the railway to be built.