By November 5, all residents of block 2 in the capital's "Hadji Dimitar" neighborhood had to leave their homes due to serious cracks in the structure that appeared shortly after the start of the metro construction in the area. Some of the families have already rented new apartments, four households have been accommodated in state housing, bTV recalled.
There are visible, wide cracks on the walls and ceilings in the apartments of the block. Residents claim that the problems started "abruptly" about 20 days after the collapse of the street pavement along the metro construction activities.
„Metropolitan“ denies a causal connection with the excavation, and their first expert report does not find fault with the construction.
A second expert report by UACEG, however, points to a possible landslide due to uncontrolled pumping of groundwater, which left part of the foundations “in the air“.
The Sofia Municipality provides targeted monthly rental assistance – approximately 1,100 leva for a two-member household (the amount varies depending on the family members). People say that this covers approximately half to two-thirds of the rent and they pay the rest.
The Sofia City Regional Administration provided 4 state-owned apartments for families who were unable to rent a new home.
“First, the structure of the building was built for “Kremikovtzi“ years ago. From there, the maintenance over the years and the condition, why it got there - there is no specific conclusion that the metro is to blame. For me personally, the reason is complex. And it is due to the years of exploitation and the condition that has reached the present. The municipality is allocating money.
The most important thing is to start real actions to restore, strengthen the building, so that people not only leave it today, but to guarantee that they will return to their homes again. We have assurances from the Sofia Municipality that a contract for the design of the reinforcement itself will be signed within this week. First, we are at the design level, the term is 3 months. From there, we will already be talking about a public procurement, in fact, about a builder to carry out the planned actions. The municipality is allocating money for rent to these people, for their homes during these 2 years. For the reinforcement itself, we have applied together with the owners' association and as a region to the Regional Development Program of the MRDPW“, explained the mayor of the “Poduyane“ district, Eng. Kristiyan Hristov.
Galin Georgiev, who owns an apartment in the cracked block, said that the assistance is not enough and they will pay extra.
“The most important thing is to strengthen the building and return“, he said.
“There are also changes in other nearby blocks, but people are afraid to speak out“, neighbors added.
“The assistance reaches all proven affected households in block 2 who have submitted documents – either in the form of monthly rental support from the municipality, or through temporary accommodation in state housing from the regional administration. No funds are paid for improvements/repairs to newly rented housing – the aid is targeted for rent or alternative accommodation“, the mayor added.
In case the period exceeds 2 years, the region and the municipality declare their readiness to extend the support.
Final conclusion on the cause and the guilty party – in case of differences.
The „Metropolitan“ replied that according to their expertise, the causes of the cracks are not in the subway excavation. And the Sofia Municipality assured us that they will sign a contract by the end of next week for the selection of the project that will renovate the building. As for whether this will happen, when people will be able to return to their homes again, we have yet to find out.