Synopsis
"Evict the people – put up the rent – bang – perfectly normal capitalism – or what do you call it?"
St. Pauli is Hamburg’s most famous district, for many years it was the poorest too. But now the numbers of high and highest income citizens are steadily growing. Social contrast is increasing. The film is about St. Pauli not only being an entertainment and nightlife district but is also an attractive residential and business area. Old building stock is demolished or expensively refurbished, rents are going up, rented accommodation is turned into private property. People who put up resistance or don’t fit in any longer are dismissed – directly or indirectly. That is gentrification.
"They are here, and we are not leaving!"
Taking the large-scale development project ‘Brauquartier’ as an example, the film illustrates the transformation process from industry to gentrification. On the former site of the brewery 350 million euros were invested, the Astra Tower demolished and rebuilt. The office building ‘Atlantik Haus’ is now occupied by BBDO, Germany’s largest advertising agency, high-end housing association homes and the ‘Empire Riverside Hotel’ were put up. High income households are moving into the flats. Local pubs are replaced by exclusive bars and restaurants or trendy cafés. What about the people who used to live in the inexpensive flats and had a beer in the corner pub for 1.50 euro?
