Fight for the Tuntenhaus

“Capitalism standardises, destroys, kills,” is written in large letters on the front of the Tuntenhaus at Kastanienallee 86 in Berlin. And after the house was sold in spring 2024, there was great fear that it would now be vacated, luxuriously renovated or demolished. Kastanienallee is already the third location of the Tuntenhaus in Berlin, as the housing project has had to move several times throughout its history. One of the last unrenovated houses in Kastanienallee and one of the few save havens for queer life and subculture in Berlin was once again under threat. The district of Pankow and the Berlin Senate were urged to exercise their right of first refusal to save the building.

Three months of fighting, demonstrations, rallies, parties and protests drew attention to the looming threat. When news broke that the prospective buyer was from a village in Bavaria, supporters travelled to that village, handed out flowers to locals and asked for their support.

The Tuntenhaus held its breath until the end – and won. The buyer signed the agreement to avert and backed out, the Senate approved the right of first refusal and the Tuntenhaus was finally saved – now hopefully for good!