Overview

• The Artemis brothel, Berlin's largest and one of Germany's largest, is seeking to expand its operations by converting a nearby warehouse into additional rooms for clients and workers.
• The Berlin Administrative Court is reviewing the case after the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district rejected the expansion permit, citing planning and construction regulations.
• The dispute has been ongoing since 2017, with previous plans for an eight-story structure rejected due to height concerns; the current proposal involves repurposing the existing warehouse.
• The Artemis has faced scrutiny in the past, including a 2016 police raid over alleged links to organized crime, though the charges were later dismissed, leading to a formal apology and compensation from the city in 2023.
• A decision from the court is anticipated soon, with the judge questioning whether the proposed expansion would cause any disturbance in the largely industrial area near highways and train tracks.