The lease of the X-tra expires. Now the city council is taking a stand. It becomes clear: He doubts the concept of the club. Nevertheless, the operators still have hope.
The X-tra has to leave the Limmathaus. Party guests are still welcome.
The end of 2023 should be over. Then the lease expires and Klub X-tra has to move out of the Limmathaus. First, the listed building will be renovated, then the start-up community Impact Hub will move in. A letter of intent has already been signed. And yet nothing is clear. Because the operators of the X-tra are fighting against being thrown out. And they can count on broad support.
Currently running a petition that has already been signed by more than 5,800 people. It states that the Impact Hub has no experience in the field of cultural events. There are also alternatives for the startup community that needs a new location.
The event industry is also supporting the operators of the X-tra: the bar and club commission, for example, is calling for renegotiations with the Limmathaus Zurich Foundation (SLZ), which owns the building.
And there is also political support. In February, local councilors Alan David Sangines (SP) and Stefan Urech (SVP) and five co-signatories submitted a written request to the city council to find out why the Impact Hub is being chosen over the X-tra. Through the now published City Council response becomes clear: This has more influence on the decision than was previously known.
Neither the city nor the board of trustees want to save the X-tra
Since the SLZ lacks the money for the planned renovation of the Limmathaus, they asked the city for financial help. The city government has agreed – on one condition: the city council appoints 5 of the 9 foundation councillors. So a majority. But neither the city nor the board of trustees seem to have an interest in saving the X-tra.
“The use planned by the Impact Hub promises greater economic viability for the SLZ and thus opens up long-term prospects for the Limmathaus for the foundation again,” says the city council’s 11-page statement. And what’s more: With the previous business model, the “minimum rent after the conversion could not be achieved”.
And an extension of the lease with the X-tra would mean “indirect subsidization of a profit-oriented corporation”. This is not in the public interest, but a unilateral intervention in the private sector.
The X-tra cannot expect any support from the city council when looking for a new location. This is not one of the city’s responsibilities, according to the government statement.
The X-tra should continue to act as a host
The city council does not accept the criticism that the end of the X-tra will weaken culture in Zurich. In the future, the Impact Hub will organize events in the large hall – just as it did in the past at the Zurich power plant.
The X-tra is welcome to host events. The club’s operators have so far refused to work with the Impact Hub.
The City Council will then decide next. The renovation of the Limmathaus should cost at least 24 million Swiss francs. However, the city council cannot grant a loan on its own. The council must approve it.
It is currently difficult to assess the chances of a turnaround for the X-tra. “We’re still in the process of finding the facts,” Alan told David Sangines TX Group media. But his personal sympathies lie with the X-tra. “It takes good reasons to replace a club that has done so much for the city and nightlife with offices.” And the other parties have not yet decided how they see the future of the Limmathaus.