Potsdam squatters leave occupied building after eviction order
A group of squatters has left a municipally owned building in Potsdam after authorities ordered their removal. The occupation at 40 Tornowstraße aimed to highlight the city’s underused housing stock. Police intervened when some refused to vacate, though the eviction remained peaceful. Eleven people initially occupied the building to protest what they called unnecessary vacant properties in Potsdam. They argued that unused municipal spaces could help ease the housing crisis. However, the structure at Tornowstraße cannot legally be converted into flats under current zoning rules.
The city plans to demolish some vacant buildings on the site and construct new residential units. Independent Mayor Noosha Aubel recognised the demand for affordable housing but condemned the illegal occupation. She stressed that solutions must follow legal procedures.
Police arrived after a few squatters refused to leave despite the eviction order. Officers filed trespassing reports, though no resistance occurred during the operation. Konstantin Gräfe, co-chair of the Left faction in the city council, later criticised the eviction as an excessive response. The property remains under municipal control, with demolition and new construction set to proceed. Authorities have taken legal action against those involved in the occupation. The incident has reignited discussions about housing shortages and the use of vacant buildings in Potsdam.
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