On December 18th 2024, after nearly three and a half years of climate activism in Freiburg—Germany’s “green city”—the last treehouse was torn down to make way for new housing. It was a necessary step for a growing city, yet a profound symbol of loss. It wasn’t just wood that fell, but a question: Can we build the future without erasing the living past? Perhaps this moment isn’t about choosing sides—between activists and planners, trees and homes—but about facing the uncomfortable truth that we are embedded in systems of compromise. Even the most forward-thinking city cannot avoid hard choices.