The city of Tallinn has stated its refusal to accept a compromise proposal from the Ministry of Finance regarding the return of the House of the Blackheads to the Brotherhood of Blackheads. The city’s deputy mayor, Tiit Terik, articulated that there are insufficient arguments for altering the ownership status of the building, which has been the center of a longstanding debate.

The dispute over the House of the Blackheads, located at Pikk 26 in Tallinn's Old Town, has persisted for several years. In January of this year, Minister Jürgen Ligi sent a letter to the city officials suggesting they reach a compromise with the brotherhood regarding the future of the building. Ligi indicated that both the brotherhood and the city of Tallinn desire to keep the House of the Blackheads as an open cultural space, proposing that the brotherhood is willing to negotiate terms that would allow the city continued cultural usage of the building for up to a hundred years.

However, Tallinn’s city government has firmly maintained its stance against the proposal. The rejection reflects deeper sentiments regarding heritage, governance, and cultural policy in the capital, highlighting the complexities involved in balancing historical ownership claims with contemporary community needs. This ongoing discussion may have implications for how Tallinn manages its historic sites and engages with various stakeholders in the future.