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Fire in the Renate club: Friedrichshain fears for its popular garden!
The “Renate” club burned down in Berlin-Friedrichshain. The fire brigade remained without any injuries; Gentrification and rising rents are putting a strain on the scene.
Fire in the Renate club: Friedrichshain fears for its popular garden!
On the night of Thursday, June 19, 2025, there was a fire in the popular club “Renate” in Friedrichshain. The entrance and outdoor area of the club, known for its lively atmosphere and numerous events, were affected. Fortunately, the fire department managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the building itself. How rbb24 Reportedly, the fire department was alerted at 2:14 a.m. and 37 emergency services were on site. Fortunately, there were no injuries as no one was in the club at the time of the fire.
Residents reported loud banging noises that disturbed the night's peace. The scene of the fire also included a wooden fence and a barrack in the so-called “Renate Garden”. The cause of the fire is currently being determined, although arson cannot be ruled out. Despite the incident, the club will remain open and the planned program for the upcoming Fête de la Musique will take place as originally planned. Interestingly, the heat of the fire damaged a traffic light at the intersection of Markgrafendamm and Alt-Stralau, which had to be repaired on Thursday afternoon.
Gentrification and its effects
The situation surrounding the “Renate” club is not isolated, but rather reflects the increasing gentrification in Berlin. In Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, two of the city's most sought-after districts, rental prices have increased dramatically in recent years. Tenants often have little chance of finding affordable housing because landlords are increasingly able to control the choice of their tenants. How Pagewizz describes, the rental price for apartments in these districts started at around 7 to 8 euros per square meter, which is unaffordable for many low earners.
The “Renate” club is facing difficulties due to the upcoming renovation of the entire area and the new building plans, especially without the surrounding garden. Loud Deutschlandfunk have had to close several clubs in Berlin in recent years, threatened by rising rents and urgent construction projects by real estate developers. This development has meant that social and cultural projects in particular are exposed to increasing pressure.
A look into the future
The rental agreement between the “Renate” club and Tetras Grundimmobilien GmbH expires on December 31st, which further increases the uncertainty for the operators. It is expected that the discussion about the preservation of cultural institutions in the wake of gentrification will become more important in the coming months. The residents and club operators are calling for a rethink and more say in future urban development projects.
Friedrichshain remains a hot spot, not only for revelers, but also for social justice activists and advocates fighting to preserve cultural diversity in the city. It remains to be seen whether the “Renate” club and other establishments can withstand the challenges of gentrification.