Prenzlauer Berg—eine Erfolgsgeschichte?

Abstract

This article analyzes the physical, cultural, and social changes in the East- Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg. Shortly after the re-unification of the city, this area was a ‘hot spot’ for political radicals, cultural alternative projects and struggles about public space. Before reunification, the social composition of the population had been very mixed, well- known for its concentration of artists of all kinds, and for the activities of political dissidents. After the fall of the Wall, many young people moved from West-Berlin to Prenzlauer Berg, houses and derelict commercial sites were taken over by squatters and many cafés and galleries were opened. When a new property pattern had been established, massive investment activities started and, as a consequence, the social composition of the population, the cultural scene and the commercial infrastructure changed quickly. The local administration sought to regulate the renewal process by introducing a renewal strategy that offered the tenants a good chance for resisting high rent increases. But in the end, the average education level and the average age of the inhabitants have been thoroughly changed. This can be explained by the effects of the post-Fordist urban renewal regime.