Long-term perspective

We are changing the appearance of this district by renovating old tenement houses and updating the character of old Praga's main streets. The biggest problem facing us, however, is the unclear ownership status of some of plots of land and buildings. The scale of this problem is holding us back, although we have high hopes of launching our Port Praski investment," stated Ireneusz Tondera, director of the Praga Północ district (northern Praga).

How do you entice investors to Praga Północ? Is there a special department responsible for attracting investors?

- The district does not have a special department responsible for attracting investors. Our role is limited to seeking out and preparing sites which are later offered for sale. The preparation of a site usually involves either the settlement of its legal status or the demolition of a tenement house. This is especially the case with buildings at ul. Ząbkowska, ul. Brzeska and ul. Targowa where residential investments are popular. We are changing the appearance of this district by renovating old tenement houses and updating the character of old Praga's main streets. The biggest problem facing us, however, is the unclear ownership status of some of the plots of land and buildings. A building maybe run down and almost empty but district authorities cannot demolish or renovate it, as we do not know who its owner is. There are about a dozen buildings whose owners left Poland in the post war years and whose descendants are now coming back and reclaiming their property. The scale of this problem is holding us back.

Can you not utilise sites whose ownership rights are not doubtful? What about the areas by the river, between the Gdański and the General Grot-Rowecki bridges?

- The problem is that part of this area is temporarily flooded so no permanent structures can be erected. Besides, Warsaw city officials want to improve infrastructure by extending ul. Wybrzeże Helskie up to Trasa Toruńska, although before this happens the area must be protected against flooding.

What about the Daewoo FSO factory site? Companies under reconstruction sometimes get rid of industrial sites they do not need.

- Daewoo owns the land on which the factory is located and district authorities do not have any further comments to make concerning this. I would be happy of course with any situation where Praga Północ gains additional land for potential investment.

The Warszawa Wileńska retail centre opened in Praga a few weeks ago. What was the district's role in this investment?

- We only issued the approvals and granted permission for the complex to operate. The idea for the project came from the French groups CEFIC and BEG.

What is going on with the Port Praski scheme, which has been in the planning stage for several years now? We have not heard anything about this project recently.

- The fact that nothing has happened at Port Praski is a consequence of several issues. First of all, the local urban development plan has still not been adopted. Local governments, not only in Warsaw but also in most other Polish cities are required by law to adopt urban development plans by December of this year. In my opinion the plan for Warsaw, and thus for Port Praski, will be ready by the end of 2003. Elektrim, the sites owner will be able to move on with the project then.

Elektrim is currently undergoing substantial restructuring changes and announced it is looking for a buyer for the port.

- This is the other issue I was referring to, although I am not worried by it. The Port Praski site is attractive enough that we are sure to find a company that will want to invest there.

Why is Port Praski such an attractive location?

- It is a big site which can be developed in a single architectural style. The area is in the vicinity of the Palace of Culture and it is the only place in Warsaw where it is possible to construct a hundred storey building. The port could become an alternative to the 'city', with lower land prices than on the other side of the Wisła river. There is even a metro station planned.

Is it too soon to talk about an underground line crossing the river to Praga and new skyscrapers at Port Praski? This is all in the future.

- It depends how you look at this issue. We cannot plan the development of the city from the perspective of next year only. This project will influence the whole of Warsaw over several decades.