


The East Side Gallery is the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall and is one of the German capital's most popular tourist attractions. It was transformed into an open-air gallery months after East Germany opened its borders Nov. 9, 1989, and is covered in colorful murals painted by about 120 artists. It was recently restored at a cost of more than $3 million to the city.

The respite is likely only temporary, however. Local city district chairman Franz Schulz told Bild newspaper that historical preservation authorities had given a construction firm all the permission needed to dismantle the 22-yard section of the ¾-mile-stretch of the wall for the Living Levels condominium project.