Just in time ahead of the September 2021 elections the autonomous youth center Potse had given up the rooms in Potsdamer Straße that had been occupied for more than two and a half years. A police eviction could thus be avoided. Under mediation by the then building senator Sebastian Scheel from the left, the Potse sponsoring association had concluded a contract with the district that the young people could use the old customs garage at the former Tempelhof airport and that the district would pay the rent.
It was always clear that the new room had to have noise protection, because punk is also played in the Potse. Punk is loud and would disturb the other tenants. It was just as clear at the time that the Senate would have to pay for this expansion work, since the costs far exceeded the financial possibilities of the district.
The Potse collective has had the customs garage at its disposal for more than a year now. But punk still can’t happen there. The left-wing politician Scheel was re-elected to the House of Representatives in 2021, but gave up his mandate. And in the following legislative period, the Social Democrat Andreas Geisel was responsible for the construction department. A year ago, he no longer felt bound by the promises made by his predecessor.
Above all, we are frustrated that the politicians say one thing and then do another
Paul, spokesman for the Potse
In the meantime, there was an estimate of 615,000 euros for the conversion work. However, it was unclear whether such work was compatible with monument protection at all. According to the Senate administration, there was no money available for this anyway. This view has not changed to this day, as revealed when asked by Geisel’s spokesman, Martin Pallgen. The Senate youth administration also does not feel responsible and refers to the district.
That’s why nothing at Potse is like it used to be. “What we are particularly frustrated with is that politicians say one thing and then do another,” says Paul, one of the collective’s spokespersons. “That shows how little politics is interested in youth work.” It is absurd that self-governing youth work is one of the main topics in the Senate’s youth promotion plan, says Paul. He can understand that the district cannot pay for the renovation: “But for the Senate, that’s peanuts.”
There are now events in the Potse again, but the 500 square meter room is difficult to use. Concerts are out of the question. Due to the monument protection, there are many requirements. “It limits creativity,” says Paul. You are not allowed to put anything on the walls and you have to pay attention to the volume. For events like the traditional punk rock bar, 100 to 150 young people used to come to Potsdamer Strasse, now only 30 to 40 come to Tempelhof. The customs garage is also not that easy to find on the site.
Youth City Councilor Oliver Schworck (SPD) is not happy with the situation either. After all, his office pays the rent for the room. He would like to ask the Senate administration again shortly what’s going on with the conversions. The building senator at the time, Scheel, finally made the commitments. According to Schworck, the lease runs for a maximum of three more years: “Without an answer from the Senate administration, I cannot assess how things should continue.”
By the way: The former building senator Scheel has moved back into the House of Representatives for the left: There he could now campaign in Parliament for funds in the 2024/25 double budget to be set aside for the conversion work in the customs garage or for another longer-term solution.
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