A housing crisis is raging in Warsaw, but the situation with land for public housing is critical. TBS has nowhere to build. At the same time, City Hall is looking for buyers for city lots at a fair in Cannes.
The dramatic situation on the residential real estate market in Warsaw is best illustrated by the dynamics of price increases. In January 2023, the average offer price for a m² apartment in the capital was less than 14 thousand zlotys. A year later, this amount exceeded 17 thousand zlotys. Pressure on the market is exerted both by mortgage subsidies, the influx of new population and the speculative activities of flippers.
TBS investment in Ochota implemented under the provisions of the developer lex act
© TBS Warszawa Południe | JEMS Architekci
At the same time, the municipal housing stock and the number of apartments offered by TBS are growing too slowly. In 2018, Rafal Trzaskowski, while still a presidential candidate, announced the construction of 1,500 apartments for cheap rent per year. However, the actual number of apartments completed over the four years of his term was about 1,060. In 2018-2022, a total of 607 social rental and public housing units were completed in Warsaw. The largest number of apartments was built in 2020: 315. TBS sees the reasons for such a low execution of plans, among others, in the very limited availability of investment land, which developers also complain about. But does the City really not have any plots of land suitable for residential development?
Increase in housing prices
© Material KW Left
Plot of land on Cinnamon Street proposed for TBS - sold. A plot of land for residential development on Pejzazowa Street, the City plans to list at a huge financial loss. I'm glad that the City is implementing the City of Warsaw's economic development policy it passed, but can it also implement the Housing 2030 policy passed by the councilors? - asks Zofia Piotrowska, an urban planner and candidate for the Downtown District Council from Muranów on the Left list.
The real estate fair in Cannes, where the City of Warsaw went with its offer, took place from March 12-15. It includes seven investment plots, four of which are intended for multi-family residential development, and the City has even issued WZ decisions for some of them. In theory, investment could begin immediately. Instead, City Hall is getting rid of the plots.
The plots presented in Cannes are not the only land for residential development that Warsaw intends to dispose of. The total area of such properties after more than 18 thousand square meters. Among them are plots on M. Rodziewiczówny Street (2765 sq m, Praga Południe) on Krzemieniecka Street (3271 sq m, Bielany), an extremely attractive plot in Powiśle on Dobra Street 33/35 (2112 sq m) or on Waliców Street (1403 sq m, Wola), where it is possible to locate a high-rise dominant. In addition to these, there are also plots of land not intended for housing, but possible under the provisions of the lex developer act (Warsaw TBS is implementing an investment in Ochota in this way). These are the areas on J. Kasprowicza Street, corner of Nocznickiego Street (4589 sq. m., Bielany) intended for offices and on Kijowska Street (4643 sq. m., Praga Północ) with a retail and office function.
Waliców Street in Warsaw - one of the plots for sale is located here
photo: Adrian Grycuk | Wikimedia Commons © CC BY-SA 3.0 EN DEED
There are some plots whose exact location we do not know, for example, the plot at Klobucka Street in Ursynów. We don't know which one exactly, because it's not on the city's map portal. It's also problematic that if the City plans to dispose of a city plot that is our common property, as residents we would like to know about it ," says Zofia Piotrowska.
During the debate "What housing policy does Warsaw need?" organized by the WSPÓŁ Association at the Zodiak Pavilion on March 12, the City representatives present were unable to explain why these plots of land are not being earmarked for urban housing. Beata Wronska-Freudenheim, director of the Office of Housing Policy and the Department of Housing Policy of the Warsaw City Hall, noted that not all of the properties sold in Cannes are suitable for multi-family housing. Instead, Karol Kretkowski, a member of the board of TBS Warszawa Południe, managed to say in one sentence that the situation with land is admittedly critical, but the 11 plots of land sold in recent years suitable for residential development is not a large number. But isn't the situation critical, and shouldn't it call for radical action?
Zofia Piotrowska also notes that in addition to the plots of land for sale, there are other sites ready for the immediate start of municipal investment. Five years ago, the MZA bus depot on Stalowa Street was to be moved to Spedycyjna Street. The land thus freed up was to be used for the construction of some 200,300 apartments. However, the city has not taken any steps in this regard, and the depot continues to operate in its old location.
The depot on Stalowa Street
Photo: Adrian Grycuk | © Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 EN DEED
