The Sofia Municipal Council will consider six reports by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev and the Chairman of the City Parliament Tsvetomir Petrov for the gratuitous transfer of properties from the state to the Sofia Municipality. The properties are related to iconic metropolitan buildings, grounds for the construction of kindergartens and schools, a park and grounds for waste management, dariknews.bg listed.
„Many of these properties are part of Sofia's history and memory, but also of its future. Our task is to give them a chance for a new life - as spaces for education, culture, public memory and work for the benefit of the people. When the city has a clear vision for its development, the state and the municipality must act together to implement,“ stated the Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev.
The proposed properties
The Sofia Municipality proposes to acquire the following properties free of charge from the state:
The building of the former Notary Office – Blvd. „Patriarh Evtimiy“ No. 2, a cultural monument, built at the end of the 19th century and used for decades as a notary office.
The building on Str. „Georgi S. Rakovski“ No. 134 – known as the former headquarters of the UDF, proposed for use by the Directorates „Education“ and „Sports and Youth Activities“ of Sofia Municipality
The property on Str. „Slivnitsa“ No. 235 – two historical buildings from 1909 and 1935, cultural monuments related to the socio-political history of Sofia
Park “Vrana“ – park-museum with an area of about 100,000 sq. m, a monument of garden and park art, created at the beginning of the 20th century and developed with over 800 plant species
Land in the “Novi Iskar“ region, “Tsarniya Dol“ – property with an area of 217,056 sq. m, a former clay quarry, proposed for reclamation and use as a site for earth masses and construction waste
A total of 9 state properties suitable for the construction of kindergartens, nurseries and schools:
4 properties in the “Vitosha“ region
1 property in „Lozenets“ district
3 properties in the „Mladost“ district
1 property in the „Ovcha Kupel“ district
The Mayor proposes that the Sofia Municipality acquire a property free of charge from the state - public state property, located on Blvd. „Patriarh Evtimiy“ No. 2. This is the emblematic building of the former Notary Office, which is a cultural monument. Despite its importance, the saga surrounding its management and restoration has been going on for years.
Currently, the property and the building are public state property and have been provided free of charge for management by the Ministry of Culture, but are not used. The purpose of the acquisition by the Sofia Municipality is the restoration and restoration of the landmark building and its use for activities in the fields of education, culture and arts.
The building consists of two main connected parts, built in different periods - the first in 1899, and the second in the 1940s. The first building was built according to a project by architect Petko Momchilov as a single-family residential building by engineer Mihail Momchilov. In the period 1938 - 1944, the building was owned by the German legation, and then the second part from the side of Graf Ignatiev Street was also built. Since 1945, the building has functioned as a trade representative office of the USSR, and from the beginning of the 1980s until 1997 it was used as a notary's office.
The Sofia Municipality proposes to acquire from the state the building at 134 Georgi S. Rakovski Street. Following a decision by the municipal council, a procedure will be initiated for the gratuitous transfer of the property, which is public state property.
The building is known as the former headquarters of the UDF and is one of the emblematic places of the democratic transition in Bulgaria. The proposal of Mayor Vasil Terziev envisages that it will be used for the needs of the municipal administration, and it will house the directorates “Education“ and “Sports and Youth Activities“ of the “Education, Sports and Youth Activities“ department in connection with the new structure of Sofia Municipality.
Currently, the two directorates are located in different buildings - the “Education“ directorate is located in a rented building on “Lomsko Shose“ Blvd. № 2A, and the “Sports and Youth Activities“ directorate is housed in the building of the Sofia Library on “Petko R. Sq. Slaveykov“. Their location in different places makes coordination and work between departments difficult. The gathering of the two directorates in one administrative building in the center of Sofia will improve the work process and the provision of administrative services, as well as the implementation of joint initiatives related to education, sports and the development of children and youth in the capital.
Another proposal that the municipal councilors are to consider on Thursday is from the chairman of the Sofia Municipalities, Tsvetomir Petrov, for the gratuitous transfer from the state to the Sofia Municipality of a property at 235 “Slivnitsa“ Blvd.
There are two buildings there, related to the cultural appearance and historical identity of the capital. They were built in 1909 and 1935, respectively, and are also cultural monuments. Among the reasons for the acquisition is the need to preserve them as part of the local authorities' efforts to preserve the city's cultural and historical heritage.
In addition to its architectural value, the site also has a significant historical role, related to certain periods of Bulgaria's socio-political development in the 20th century. In the public space, the building is associated with the time of totalitarianism and the repressive structures of the past, which gives it the character of a place of memory and historical reflection. In this sense, the site is potentially related to historical memory and the affirmation of democratic values.
Park „Vrana“
The Sofia Municipality wishes to manage Park „Vrana“ again by acquiring ownership of it. The territory, which is a monument of garden and park art, will be accessible to citizens and will function as a natural history museum, open to Sofia residents and guests of the city, by determining the appropriate order, days and hours for visiting.
A number of activities are planned to be carried out, necessary for maintaining the park territory, which has an area of about 100,000 sq. m.
Park „Vrana“ is state property with management rights granted to the regional governor of Sofia. The historical park-museum was managed by the Sofia Municipality from 2012 to 2023, when after a court decision the municipality withdrew and the park was given to the state.
Created at the beginning of the last century by Tsar Ferdinand I, inspired by European landscape parks, the “Vrana“ park has been developed with over 800 plant species, numerous rare trees and a lake with water lilies.
Nine properties for the construction of kindergartens and schools
A decision of the Sofia Municipal Council proposes that the municipality acquire nine properties from the state free of charge, suitable for the development of educational infrastructure.
The properties are located in different areas of Sofia - four in the “Vitosha“ region, one in “Lozenets“, three in “Mladost“ and one in “Sheep Bath“. After the necessary urban planning procedures, new kindergartens, nurseries and schools can be built in them.
The initiative is part of the Sofia Municipality's efforts to expand the educational infrastructure, provide more places in kindergartens and create conditions for mandatory preschool education for 4-year-olds, as well as to introduce a single-shift regime in schools.
The free transfer of the properties can be made by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon a proposal from the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, after the Sofia Municipal Council has given its consent for the municipality to acquire them.
Land for a landfill for soil and construction waste
The Sofia Municipality is taking action to acquire state-owned property in the “Novi Iskar“ region, “Tsarniya Dol“, with the aim of recultivating the land and using it as a site for the landfill of soil and construction waste. waste.
The property has an area of 217,056 sq. m and is a technogenically disturbed terrain - a former clay quarry, used in the past by the nearby State Ceramic Plant. According to the current General Development Plan of the Sofia Municipality, the territory is intended for technical reinforcement of such disturbed terrain.
As a result of long-term exploitation, the terrain relief has been disturbed and a deep pit has formed, which fills with water during intense rainfall. An inspection has established that the buildings of the former ceramic plant have been destroyed, and the terrain has been used for unregulated disposal of waste, mainly construction waste, for years.
After the acquisition of the property, it is planned to implement a project for reclamation and bringing the terrain into a state close to the natural environment, as well as to create a regulated landfill for soil and construction waste. The goal is to end unregulated pollution of the area and ensure controlled management of this type of waste in Sofia.
In order to implement important projects - public spaces, schools and other objects of public interest - the municipality must have the necessary land. Therefore, the acquisition of properties that can serve the development of the city is an important step in accelerating the implementation of these solutions for the benefit of Sofia.