For years he fought for his home – in the end in vain. Adolf Gründl has to vacate his house after 20 years. He had lived in his house in Gölling (Salzburg) since he was a teenager. After a legal dispute that has been going on since 2017, it is clear: Gründl has to move out – for an ÖBB railway underpass costing 27 million euros. Since the last grace period has passed on Saturday, the Salzburg resident can no longer raise an objection. According to the “Salzburger Nachrichten”, the final decision is based on a completed expropriation procedure. The public interest outweighs the individual interest of the home owner.
Gründl’s house is right next to the ÖBB-Tauern route. A new level crossing is planned right there. Construction work began in August. The single-family house of the Tennengauer has so far been in the way. The ÖBB offered compensation of 345,000 euros, whereby an ÖBB appraiser estimated the price to be paid for the house at 300,000 euros. Clearly too little for the homeowner. For the retired plumber, this bears no comparison to the emotional value. Project coordinator Christian Höss said in an ORF interview that they are aware of the tragedy and are working on a solution. According to von Gründl’s lawyer, the compensation is still being negotiated in court.
