A Berlin Neighborhood Fights Against Google's "Gentrification Attempt"

Google’s launch of a new campus in the trendy neighborhood near central Berlin, Kreuzberg, has fanned the flames of a long-running tension between locals and “gentrifiers.”

Google Campus, which self-claims “to be a global network of spaces where big ideas are shaping the future”, has 7 branches across the world. Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Sao Paulo, Madrid, London and finally Berlin became host cities of the tech-giant. These hubs are for entrepreneurs, providing work space for startup founders as well as networking and educational events according to Google. But for the first time they have encountered a strong domestic resistance in Berlin which is being hailed as London’s successor to become Europe’s start-up capital, following Brexit and even been deemed “the EU’s new Silicon Valley.”

Some Kreuzberg locals say “they will not let their beloved city be taken over by this law- and tax-evading company that is building a dystopian future” on the website where they gathered all opponents: https://fuckoffgoogle.de

The main reason for the protesters is that they believe “Google campus” in Kreuzberg will inevitably cause rents to increase more, pushing out long-time residents and businesses. Highly-paid start-up employees will buy apartments, thus pushing out the locals. According to this report average prices already leapt 20.5% in 2017, prompting warnings of a property bubble waiting to burst in Berlin.