A sign has appeared on the building of the Solpol department store in Wroclaw, informing of the ongoing demolition work. They are scheduled to be completed by the end of July. However, this does not prejudge the fate of the building, as heavy equipment is still not allowed to enter.
The information board was hung on the fence in front of the building on Monday, March 21. According to the information posted there, the work will be carried out based on a permit from last April, and the previous owner, Polsat Real Estate, on whose behalf the work will be carried out by Tree Capital, is responsible for the demolition. Meanwhile, a company owned by the Kulczyk family - Noho Investment - has taken over the building. However, according to Wrocław's Gazeta Wyborcza, the company refuses to comment, referring to Polsat, which... refers inquirers to Noho. So it looks like restricting access to information about the planned work is a strategy to limit the ability of activists defending the building from demolition.
Lack of access halts demolition
The appearance of the information board, however, does not prejudge the start of work. This is because arrangements are still being made for an access route to the facility. The city has not agreed on the investor's proposed access for construction vehicles through Świdnicka Street, which would paralyze this part of Wrocław's pedestrian zone. The only work that can be carried out at this point is limited to securing the building. The investor could also begin work inside the building.
A chance for preservation
In the fight to preserve the building, local activists are not stopping. Indeed, proceedings are still underway before the Supreme Administrative Court in Warsaw, the aftermath of an appeal filed by the Society for the Beautification of the City of Wroclaw. The association disagreed with the refusal of the previous provincial historic preservation officer to enter Solpol in the register of monuments.
