This year, there will not be a big Siste April (Valborg, the last day of April) celebration at Parentesen. Last year’s partying was the last straw for AF Bostäder and this year they decide to limit the access.
Previous years there has been a great deal of people at Parentesen during Siste April. But after last year’s partying, that has to stop. The huge crowd got so out of control that the tenants’ safety could not be guaranteed anymore.
That is why AF Bostäder, together with representatives from the corridors, decide to seal off Parentesen during Siste April for people who do not live there.
“After Valborg last year, something needed to be done. That time it escalated and Parentesen was left with large material damages. It is time we put our foot down and we feel it is our responsibility”, says Pierre Andersson, Housing Representative at AF Bostäder.
Security officers supervising the entrance
Starting before noon on the 30th of April, the security company Securitas will seal off Parentesen. Every tenant has been given two bracelets that allow entrance to Parentesen – one for the tenant and one for a potential visitor. All people going in or out will do so via the small bridge that lets out to the parking lot, under the supervision of security officers.
“We have had a dialogue with tenants and this is the solution we have reached. Our responsibility as landlord is to be able to guarantee our tenants’ safety. This is the easiest and most tried method”, says Pierre Andersson.
Photo: Kalandranis Dimitris
The solution is a necessary evil
Victor Bengtsson is the Supervisor of corridor B3 at Parentesen – one of the corridors that were the most damaged last year. He sees the barriers as a necessary evil that is needed in order to get control over the problem.
“Last year I had to act as a bouncer for my own corridor to keep uninvited people out. One guy that did not get in got a spray can and spray painted the entire staircase”, he says.
“Sealing off Parentesen during Valborg is a much better solution than previous years and we have agreed to it. Many view Parentesen as some kind of youth centre”, says Victor Bengtsson.
Critical voices against restricted rights
The discussion amongst the tenants at Parentesen has among other things been about the tenants losing their right to more than one guest.
“I understand if people at Parentesen feel restricted. They are allowed to have as many guests as they want – just, please, not on Valborg”, says Victor Bengtsson.
“The intention with the barriers is not to close down Parentesen, but to kill the rumour that you can go there and go apeshit.”
Takes a lot of communication
But Victor Bengtsson thinks that the tradition of Parentesen’s Siste April will be hard to break and that the security officers will be busy.
“There is a risk that this will turn into a parking lot party instead, like at a festival, but that is something AF Bostäder will have to deal with”, he says.
Pierre Andersson at AF Bostäder thinks that people will respect the barriers.
“We will inform the public that Parentesen is sealed off. It will take a lot of communication, but people already seem to know about it”, he says.
How much will the security officers cost?
“It is hard to say at the moment. They will stay as long as we need them and that will in turn decide the cost.”
Is this something you will continue with in the future?
“We will try it this year and then see how it goes and evaluate the solution with the tenants at Parentesen”, says Pierre Andersson, Housing Representative at AF Bostäder.
Text: Casper Danielsson
Translation: Emily Eriksson
