Krakow magistrate recently announced that work is underway on a project to redevelop Krupnicza Street, which is expected to become a friendly woonerf full of greenery, according to the announcement. The city boasts a preliminary concept, which has not been made available to the public, and announces that work on "GreenKrupnicza" will begin soon. The problem is that, according to information from Krakow activist Natalia Nazim, the city does not have a construction project ready and does not have the funds in the budget to implement one for the next two years. Controversy is also aroused by the fact that the activist's project to plant a lot of greenery in the Krupnicza area was rejected by officials. So what will be the future of this street?
The case concerns the redevelopment of Krupnicza Street in Krakow, located in the Old Town area, which has been planned for about 10 years. In 2011, the idea of developing Krupnicza into a green woonerf was put forward by city activists, who were supported by many nature and urban development organizations. The Board of Urban Greenery of the City of Krakow has developed the initial assumptions of the project, among other things, on the basis of projects submitted to the civic budget, but the plan for the redevelopment of Krupnicza still cannot wait for the final version. This year, the civic project "Green Krupnicza", which was developed by activist Natalia Nazim, was submitted to the budget for the third time. It can be followed, among others, on Facebook. It assumes the planting of a large amount of greenery, including, among other things, 20 new trees.
Activists have been trying to include the project in the civic budget for several years. Now it turns out that it may have been in vain, as Krakow officials from the Board of Urban Greenery and the Board of Roads of the City of Krakow have rejected it, arguing that it cannot be implemented because the reconstruction of Krupnicza Street has already begun. On the basis of what project? That is not known. You can read the full reasoning behind the decision to reject the project here.
The second reason behind the officials' decision was the amount of money that the project submitted by Natalia Nazim was expected to consume, namely more than PLN 1,400,000.
The decision was also argued on the grounds that the project is already underway, and according to the rules, only new ideas are considered in civic budgets.
Officials reject civic project and announce construction of woonerf
Perhaps the matter wouldn't have been so controversial if it weren't for the fact that shortly after the project was rejected, the magistrate boasted that the reconstruction of Krupnicza Street was imminent. It was reported that a preliminary concept for the redevelopment of the area is ready, which has been approved by the Provincial Office for Historic Preservation. In addition, the Board of Urban Greenery of Krakow, which is responsible for the preliminary visualizations of the reconstruction of Krupnicza Street, announced that if everything goes according to plan, the work will begin next year, after the modernization of the network by the Municipal Thermal Power Company. This information has appeared in many media outlets and has provoked a lot of criticism from, among others, city activists. They accuse officials of rejecting the Krupnicza greening project from the civic budget, while at the same time announcing the realization of the reconstruction. Natalia Nazim has already filed an appeal against the magistrate's decision.
This is not serious treatment of residents. First she receives information from the City Hall that it takes two years to prepare design documentation for the investment, and now there is an announcement on the magistrate's website that work on the reconstruction of Krupnicza is to begin next year. In my opinion, this is not a realistic deadline. My hands are falling off. However, no matter what, I will be filing an appeal against the rejection of my project to the Civic Budget. I don't see any reason why this project could not be implemented within the BO ," Natalia Nazim told krakow.naszemiasto.pl.
The city has not prepared a construction project
The Board of Urban Greenery and the Board of Roads of the City of Krakow announce that it is possible to start work as early as next year. Natalia Nazim, however, warns against these promises, because, she says, the city does not have a construction project ready, without which work cannot begin. According to the activist, the city's budget does not include funds for this for the next two years. So how is it possible to start work next year?
For the time being, there is not a zloty in the city's budget either for the construction project or for implementation. There is also no funding for this project in the Long-Term Financial Forecast. Therefore, I will believe it when I see real action. These visualizations are from 2 years ago, and we are constantly being told that there will be a Green Krupnicza in no time. How much longer can you believe in these fairy tales? - comments Natalia Nazim on her Facebook profile.
If there is no task in the city budget and it is not in the Long-Term Financial Forecast, how can such a task be implemented? You can't just start preparing for an investment without assured financing. The statutory regulations are quite strict in this regard ," the activist said in an interview with A&B.
What the city can boast of at this point in terms of the Krupnicza Street reconstruction project are the preliminary visualizations developed by the Urban Greenery Board, which are included below.
Preliminary visualizations of Krupnicza Street after reconstruction
© Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
Preliminary visualizations of Krupnicza Street after reconstruction
© Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
Preliminary visualizations of Krupnicza Street after reconstruction
© Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
These visualizations are from 2 years ago and we are still being told that in a while there will be a Green Krupnicza Street. How much longer can you believe in these fairy tales? - comments the activist.
So what will be the further fate of Krupnicza?
