East Central is a trendy, bohemian, artsy area that consists of Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain and Prenzlauer Berg sometimes called Prenzlberg. The western district Kreuzberg was merged with the east Berlin district Friedrichshain in 2001. They both have a rather poor population high unemployment rate and they are a habitat to a young and alternative, often politically left oriented crowd. Both districts feature a very heterogenous architecture, from whole quarters of 19th century apartment houses to functional and not very pleasant 60s and 70s residential building blocks. As the districts were separated by the wall, you notice also some differences. The remaining part of the wall between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg is the longest still existing one in Berlin. Prenzlauer Berg has changed considerably since reunification, transforming from deserted apartment houses into a lively area for students, artists, and young people — if they or their parents can afford it. Rents have risen extremely in the last years. Usually empty apartments nowadays in this area aren't rented out but sold away, transformed into luxurious lofts or hostel rooms.
