City government under fire: Operetta fire in Dresden!

City government under fire: Operetta fire in Dresden!

Last night, June 11, 2025, the ITALMODE building, better known as the old operetta in Leuben, experienced a devastating fire that completely destroyed the historic structure. This is not only a sad day for the city of Dresden, but also a bitter loss for the cultural landscape, which urgently needs revitalization. The Dresden city administration is now facing harsh criticism after being exposed to allegations from the city council.

Critics accuse the city administration of having ignored the problems with vandalism on the site of the building, which has been unused since 2016, for years. The citizens' initiative, which is committed to revitalizing the site as early as 2023, warned of the impending dangers caused by inadequate security measures. Rainer Kempe, a member of the initiative, reported increasing vandalism that has led to worrying conditions in recent months, including torn cables and coking.

City administration defends itself against allegations

The head of the Office for Building Construction and Real Estate Management, Katrin Tauber, firmly rejected the allegations. According to investigations, all entrances to the former operetta building were closed and secured with wooden panels. In addition, the area's fencing was regularly maintained. Media such as electricity and water were disconnected, and the security measures, Tauber emphasizes, were regularly checked and renewed. However, vandalism remained an unresolved problem as unauthorized persons continued to gain access to the building.

Before the fire, technical monitoring of the site was planned and the city administration had already received corresponding offers. This measure could have provided additional protection. Despite all efforts, the city withdrew 800,000 euros to revitalize the site, which further inflamed the situation.

The citizens' initiative and the consequences

The citizens' initiative had campaigned intensively for cultural events at the location, which are now no longer possible due to the loss of the building. “It is frustrating to see how our warnings were ignored as the destruction progressed,” said Kempe, highlighting that the Leuben City District Advisory Council had already called for protective measures for the site in February 2025. However, this initiative came too late.

The fire not only destroyed the old operetta, but also affected a significant part of Dresden's identity. Historical buildings shape the cityscape and are often not just buildings, but also bearers of history and culture. The challenge of developing the old town requires constant attention and respect for the past.

The urgency of preserving both the cultural and historical substance in Dresden is emphasized more than ever by this incident. The city administration now has a duty to learn from the mistakes of the past and then finally take effective measures to secure and revive this cultural heritage. Especially at a time when old towns are losing their importance as shopping and cultural locations, it is essential to actively shape this change and at the same time preserve the character and history of the city.

How the city will respond to the challenges remains to be seen. The next steps must be carefully considered to prevent a repeat of this sad event.