Return to the high-rise in Babenhausen has been delayed for weeks!

Return to the high-rise in Babenhausen has been delayed for weeks!

There has been a lot of activity in the quiet town of Babenhausen in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district since the evacuation of a high-rise building around a week ago. The approximately 190 residents had to flee their apartments after falling parts of the facade threatened acute danger. This measure was necessary to ensure the safety of people, as the FAZ reports. The incident occurred on the night of June 4, 2025, when the evacuation began around midnight and was completed after about three hours. The calm and orderly evacuation was praised by Mayor Dominik Stadler.

But now the former residents have to endure longer than initially planned. Instead of the originally estimated two to three weeks, return will now only be possible between June 30th and July 4th. The reason for the delay is due to work on the security of the building. The north facade, which is badly damaged, must be completely removed. An engineering office is also preparing to install a new thermal insulation composite system, reports Tagesschau.

Challenges during the evacuation

The evacuation was not easy, as around half of the residents had to get to another stairwell via the roof at a height of 40 meters. This measure was necessary because the escape route could no longer be safely used in the event of a fire. The responsible test engineer monitors the statics of the building throughout the entire work in order to exclude possible risks. Despite the massive damage and the threat of demolition of parts of the facade, no acute risk of collapse was identified, as the [Giessener Allgemeine](https://www.giessener- Allgemeine.de/hessen/massiver-fassadentreib-hochhaus-in-babenhausen-muss-evakuiert- Werden-93768312.html) notes.

In addition to the problematic circumstances, the residents are also being accommodated in the town hall of Babenhausen, which serves as emergency accommodation for around 70 affected apartments. This will remain open for another three weeks. In the last few days, around 80 residents have slept on camp beds. However, the community has shown solidarity and many are helping where they can.

The path to normality

Despite all the discomfort and uncertainty, there are bright spots. The mayor and the local administration are making every effort to improve the situation as quickly as possible. An additional crane and lifting device are to be brought to the construction site this week to enable work on three facade areas at the same time. The residents hope to return to their homes soon. The next week will be crucial to closely monitor progress and make the return as smooth as possible.

In these challenging times, Babenhausen shows once again how important solidarity is! The city will overcome this challenge and those affected will soon be able to return to their usual four walls.