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The Defense Ministry is selling the listed building in central Oslo. Price: 10 crowns.
Trine Skei Grande (V), Morten Wold (Frp), Michael Tetzschner (H) and Geir Sigbjørn Toskedal (KrF) visited the old war school last fall to present the news that the foundation was allowed to take over. The transfer has already been completed. Photo: Christian Sørgjerd
On Friday, it became clear that the Defense Ministry is handing over the war school building in central Oslo to the newly created Old War School Foundation. It happens for a symbolic sum.
Thus, the Ministry of Defense complies with the majority in the Storting, which approved the inauguration as part of the state budget.
The new foundation will take over the building in Tollbugata for 10 crowns.
– Under agreed terms, this can be a gift to the city. We can come out of all this with a polished gem. Because this is a gem, said Michael Tetzschner (H) when the news broke last fall.
It is estimated that the repair of the property will cost NOK 350 million to keep it operating.
– We must believe that the broad political support in the Storting to keep the War College on public property also triggers seed money. The best thing would have been if it could happen already in the revised state budget this year. It’s urgent to get started, says chairman of the board of directors Ole Rikard Høisæther at the foundation.
They warn that they will start work on the building as soon as possible. In addition to a comprehensive rehabilitation, the goal is to open it more to the public than today. The plan is to finance the project through rentals and various types of commercial operations.
The Ministry of Defense really wanted to sell the building to the highest bidder on the open market. It caused great protests.
