Citizens of Ostermundigen on Sunday approved a 100-metre residential tower earmarked for property next to the train station of the municipality to the east of Bern’s city centre.
Around 64 percent of those casting ballots backed the 33-storey high-rise, budgeted at 130 million francs, the SDA news agency reported.
The Zentrum Bären project, being promoted by property developers Halter AG, is subject to approval by the Bern cantonal government.
There are currently no skyscrapers in the national capital area, unlike in Zurich or Basel.
The tallest building in Bern currently is the cathedral, which tops out at 101 metres.
The municipality of Ostermundigen, which has a high proportion of foreigners as residents, hopes to attract “good taxpayers” to live in the tower and says it will create 200 jobs, SDA said.
A hotel, shops and bistro are envisaged in the base of the tower, with a panoramic restaurant, as well as apartments (2.5 to 4.5 bedrooms), overlooking a public square.
The developers hope to complete construction of the tower by 2019.
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