Today, Save Sofia raised several questions and demands in connection with the government's decision to put up for sale 4,400 state properties, including dozens of plots of land in Sofia. Just a few days ago, the National Assembly approved legal changes facilitating the sale of state property.
“The indiscriminate sale of state properties is extremely dangerous – especially when among them there are plots with potential for kindergartens, parks, even cultural heritage. If the state does not have a vision for these properties – we do,“ said Andrey Zografski, a municipal councilor from Save Sofia. He gave examples such as the former “Akademik“ stadium and a plot with ancient remains on “Dondukov“ Blvd., which are also included in the sale list.
Arch. Rositsa Nikolova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Commission on Spatial Planning, Architecture and Housing Policy, focuses on the urban planning consequences of the sales. “Instead of allowing new overbuilding on the already scarce green areas between the blocks, we can apply a modern approach – replacement or consolidation. The private properties in the inter-block spaces should remain municipal and green, and construction should be directed to large state-owned plots nearby.“ - noted Arch. Nikolova.
The Mayor of “Vrabnitsa“ Rumen Kostadinov presented a specific map of private properties in the inter-block spaces in the “Obelya-2“ residential area, which need to be expropriated and stated - “If we do not acquire these private properties in inter-block spaces, we risk new construction under people's windows. But with one plot of 55 decares – state-owned and deserted – we can save all the green spaces. The deal is mutually beneficial and will improve the lives of over 70,000 people.“
In conclusion, Save Sofia presented three main demands to the government:
- To stop the indiscriminate sale of state-owned properties with public value – green spaces, sports facilities, historical sites.
- To transfer to the municipalities those properties for which there is a clear vision and a development project for the public benefit.
- To build a transparent mechanism for coordination with local authorities so that state assets are used strategically.
„The state does not lose by transferring these lands to the municipalities – it invests in the future of citizens. "Do not sell at retail what tomorrow could be a park, a garden or a new school," urged architect Nikolova at the end of the press conference.