Like many cities of the former GDR, Leipzig faced significant population and economic decline after the events of 1989/90, as industries collapsed and many chose to leave the city for opportunities elsewhere. The phenomenon of the so-called shrinking city – not exclusive to East Germany, but visible in multiple forms in urban centres around the globe – posed economic and cultural challenges, prompting city planners to adopt strategies to reinvent their image and economy. Part of Leipzig’s reorganization around creative industries has been a result of the abundance of affordable spaces that made a variety of projects possible and drew ever more artists and entrepreneurs to the city in the 1990s and early 2000s. But as Leipzig’s reputation grows, and development and real estate speculation increase, are these spaces disappearing? In this section artists and entrepreneurs discuss the transformation of now well-established neighbourhoods, their own experiences in the search for affordable living and working space, and predictions for future development in the city.