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Fire destruction of the Old State Operetta: What is now planned!
Major fire destroys the old operetta in Leuben. SPD application calls for sale of the site for revitalization.
Fire destruction of the Old State Operetta: What is now planned!
On June 6th, a major fire almost completely destroyed the former operetta building in Leuben and left a painful void in Dresden. The building, which has been empty since 2016 after the operetta moved to the renovated Mitte power plant, was an object of desire for the citizens' initiative “Alte Operette - Revitalize Leuben”, which has been campaigning for the revitalization of the area since 2023. Rainer Kempe, a member of the initiative, reported vandalism that had severely damaged the building in the past, including the theft of cables and pipes.
The city administration now sees itself as having a duty to act, as little has been done despite repeated calls for renovation and usage considerations. The safe keeping of empty buildings in particular is a serious issue for local politics. Building mayor Stephan Kühn even announced that he wanted to reinstall the previous video surveillance in order to counteract such attacks. For the widespread vandalism, the dismantling of the alarm system that was once linked to the police is seen as a serious mistake.
Political measures after the fire
The SPD application, which envisages the sale of the area, receives support from the Team Zastrow faction. The aim is to secure the striking facades of the front building, while the approximately 8,500 square meter area is to be redeveloped for possible new buildings, including rent-controlled apartments and age-appropriate, barrier-free living. Kristin Sturm-Karls, SPD city councilor, emphasizes the urgency of a competition to find the best usage concept for the site.
The city administration has not yet taken any concrete steps, despite countless appeals from various political camps and citizens' initiatives. After the fire, the security measures alone cost 32,000 euros. The fire brigade, which prevented anything worse from happening, successfully stopped the flames from spreading to neighboring buildings, but now the operetta building remains in ruins.
A vexing issue: vacancies
As in the case of the old operetta, this also shows the problem of vacancy in cities, which often has both economic and social effects. In recent years, the vacancy rate has increased in many urban areas. Similar to Leipzig, there is increasing concern in Dresden about the development of former cultural sites. Innovative concepts that revitalize empty spaces are needed to keep the streets lively.
A potential solution could lie in public-private partnerships that make it possible to fill such areas with life again. In other cities, too, creative ideas are being put forward to repurpose empty buildings in order to provide new impetus through co-working spaces or pop-up stores. Only if all stakeholders pull together can the challenge of vacancies be truly addressed.
The setbacks in dealing with the old state operetta are not just a local tragedy, but reflect larger, structural problems that affect many cities. Quick action is required in order to prevent the vacant areas from falling into further disrepair and to revitalize Dresden's cityscape.