Elevator shortage in Kiel: Small elevator in the White Giant back on Wednesday!
The elevator in the “White Giant” in Kiel-Mettenhof will be repaired on September 23, 2025, while the larger elevator will undergo long-term renovation.

Elevator shortage in Kiel: Small elevator in the White Giant back on Wednesday!
In Kiel-Mettenhof, the situation in the “Weißer Riese” high-rise building is causing worried faces. The building's two elevators have been out of service for more than a week. This represents a major challenge, especially for older residents, as they cannot climb stairs and are dependent on help or are sometimes even stuck in their apartments. However, the Berlin company Grand City Property (GCP) is planning a quick repair of the smaller lift, which could probably be operational again from Wednesday kn-online.de reported.
While residents wait for the small elevator to return, the larger elevator has been broken for some time and is in need of extensive renovation. This work is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. In the meantime, GCP has offered daily baby carriers for tenants, who are grateful for this support. In addition, the company tries to find individual solutions for tenants with special needs, such as providing alternative apartments or hotel rooms. However, no tenant has yet made use of this claim.
Support for residents
The need for support for residents has increased significantly. According to reports, both pensioners and the emergency services are increasingly relying on paramedics to leave the building. Anyone who needs to use external transport services can submit the costs through their health insurance company, even if GCP does not offer cost coverage. It remains to be hoped that the repairs to the small elevator go according to plan so that the tenants can soon regain more independence.
But what does this situation teach us about the living space of older people? More and more people want to stay in their own four walls, but stairs and narrow hallways, which often do not meet the needs of old age, pose challenges. These circumstances make it all the more important that apartments are converted to suit the elderly to ensure safe and comfortable living. Narrow doors and unsafe stairs should be counteracted by barrier-free design sorglosmakler.de shows.
Age-appropriate conversions, which are now an important topic in the housing industry, enable people to live a self-determined life even in old age. Barrier-free living not only means increasing safety and avoiding risks, but also increasing the quality of life and maintaining property value - a crucial aspect, especially in the current market situation.
Consider for the future
Anyone planning to move into a new apartment should also think carefully about the surrounding area. Whether it's a central location with quick access via public transport or a quiet and green environment, many factors play a role. GCP offers on its platform to search for apartments that meet individual needs so that residents can feel comfortable. Information about this can be found on the GCP website.
The situation in the “White Giant” could serve as a wake-up call to think more deeply about the issue of age-appropriate living. Well-thought-out planning and development of barrier-free living concepts could not only increase the quality of life of residents, but also increase the value of real estate in the general market in the long term.