Restaurants Expand Seating; Police Chase In Reinach; Roche Plans Third Tower

News For 19 October 2020

In an effort to assist Basel's restaurants The Basel Building and Transport Department (BVD) has extended a regulation that was originally valid until November 15, allowing them to expand their sidewalk seating until at least mid 2021.  The expanded seating allowance should help restaurants to make up for lost interior seats that had to be removed to observe social distance mandates.  In addition, restaurants will be able to deploy outdoor heating units to assist with the comfort of its patrons during the winter months.  The only exception to the relaxation of the rules is in the Steinenvorstadt neighborhood, which authorities fear has too much crowd density to safely allow.

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On Saturday evening, two teenagers were involved in a breakneck chase involving a stolen delivery van. While police conducted speed control checks on Birsigstrasse, a delivery van sped past, and the police gave chase. The teenagers aged 15 and 16 panicked and accelerated, while on the A18 highway. The teenagers then turned back towards Reinach Dorf and crashed into a stone barrier. The teens then fled on foot and boarded a bus. The alert bus driver notified the police after noticing his suspicious looking passengers which led to their arrest.  According to the police report the teens are guilty of multiple vehicular infractions including endangering other road users.

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In case you were looking forward to the completion of construction at the second Roche tower in Kleinbasel, don't get too excited.  With the association of Herzog & DeMeuron architects, Roche presented its vision for the neighborhood which planned for a third, and taller still, tower relative to the two already built and under construction.  The record setting 221 meter tall tower will be the tallest in Switzerland and is meant to expand the company's capacity to house its workforce.  Roche spokespersons claimed the additional construction is meant to display the company's commitment to Basel, its global headquarters.