Sofia to redirect funds from unpopular project into new green spaces

News

Sofia is proposing to redirect funds from the unpopular Boris Garden project towards new green spaces.

Under Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova, the city noted that the money can be invested in public green spaces in six districts.

City authorities pointed out that the six districts in question – Krasna Polyana, Nadezhda, Vrabnitsa, Ilinden, Serdika and Vazrazhdane – are classified as impact zones in the Integrated Urban Development and Reconstruction Plan.

In line with Sofia’s policies, interventions to improve the urban environment are focused on impact zones with the aim of achieving a synergistic effect. The zones are split in two categories – those with a predominantly social character and those of high public importance.

City authorities reminded that the policies were designed in cooperation with citizens, NGOs, institutions and businesses through more than 80 meetings and were based on 4 sociological studies.

Sofia proposed to redirect the money initially allocated for renovation of the Boris Garden towards building a network of public green spaces due to appeals against the project, which put its implementation at risk.

The city administration pointed out that Sofia is specific for its size, population and investment needs, which national authorities did not take into account when they drew up one-size-fits-all rules for non-grant financial assistance.