The temporary Chief Architect of the Metropolitan Municipality, Bohdana Panayotova, yesterday approved a plan for the construction of a 7-storey building in the courtyard of the "Blue Lion" restaurant, which is located meters from the National Theater "Ivan Vazov" in the heart of Sofia. This was signaled by the former head of the Metropolitan Municipal Council and current GERB deputy Georgi Georgiev.
He recalled that the case with the investment intention in the plot of the restaurant has a rather long history. "As chairman of the SOS a year and a half ago, I announced that the project will not be considered until the investor presents a new study with maximum preservation of the 25 existing trees. The Environmental Commission then also postponed the examination", commented Georgiev.
Panayotova's actions are truly scandalous, considering that for years citizens protested against this construction and did not allow it to be realized. They were supported by municipal councilors from the "Democratic Bulgaria" group, which today is part of the PP-DB-"Save Sofia" coalition. and stands behind the mayor Vasil Terziev, who appointed the temporary chief architect.
During the mandate of the previous SOS, in which the GERB had a majority, the request for the development of the courtyard was discussed several times in the ecology committee and was on the verge of being accepted. In July 2023 she even held an extraordinary meeting on the case together with several other requests for cutting down trees in different parts of Sofia. Then the project for the new building next to the National Theater was blocked by the former municipal councilor from DB Ivo Bozhkov, who invited residents of the district. "Borovo", who came to protest against the destruction of vegetation in their neighborhood, to stay for the point for the "Blue Lion". Under this project, a vote was being prepared on a report on the removal of 21 of the 25 trees in the restaurant's garden. With their destruction, the realization of the request for the construction of an office building would be started.
Initially, the representatives of GERB were apparently inclined to approve the logging request in the "Blue Lion". During the meeting, however, Bozhkov called on the people of "Borovo" to listen to the debates on the case in the "Sredets" region. After that, GERB changed their tone and suggested that the regional mayor Traicho Traikov give an opinion on the construction, although the former chief architect Zdravko Zdravkov informed the attendees that he had already sent two. GERB's request was accepted and the solution to the problem with the disputed property was once again postponed. Until the elections in the fall of 2023. it was not raised again.
The field under the "Blue Lion" is a former state official, but in 2005 was sold by the regional governor to a private company. Currently, the property of 1.55 decares is owned by the company "A-Trade 3000", which is owned by businessmen Dimitar Borisov and Ivo Ivanov, better known as partners in the garbage collection company "Titan". For years, they have announced their intention to build it with a high-rise office building with several underground parking levels, writes "Now".