Islands of greenery in a sea of concrete, so that at least a little bit of nature remains in city centers, so that there is room for animals. Krakow local government officials appeal to the government to help municipalities defend themselves against blackmail from developers.
Mrs. Elżbieta and her neighbors have been fighting for two decades to make sure that instead of a road or a block of flats, there will be shade, water holes and animals – a miracle of nature, a few kilometers from Wawel. Zakrzówek, famous for its queues to the beach, is also used, although a bit further, by butterflies, lizards and the smooth snake, a very gentle, non-venomous and shy snake.
– Today it is basking in the sun, so they run to get their phones, take pictures. People who come here admire it, and they can't believe when we say that this is an endangered area, that blocks of flats could be built here instead of this greenery. They say: “Mother of God, no!” – says Sylwia Rykała, a resident of Krakow.
The new Krakow councilors also unanimously said “no” for the first time. They voted to expand the protected area. – It's a kind of constant race. Who will be the first to do it: will we manage to protect nature in the form of use or other forms of protection, or will the developer obtain a building permit – comments Łukasz Maślona, Krakow councilor.
Local government officials appeal to the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Environment
Now, Krakow councillors are hearing from the owners of two plots that winning the race will cost the city. – Developers most often use a chilling effect in the form of threats for maximum compensation – informs Łukasz Maślona.
The Salvatorian Order is talking about compensation. It owns part of the area included in the protection. – When it comes to the loss of value caused by this resolution in the case of the Salvatorian Order plots, it amounts to seven million złoty – says Michał Wojtyczek, proxy of the Polish Province of the Society of the Divine Savior in Kraków.
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The owner of other plots is thinking about a larger amount. – At this point I would not like to provide details, but as we indicated earlier, it will be tens of millions of zlotys – informs Tomasz Gustab, investment director at Apollo Investment.
Kraków is not the only city where there are such disputes, which is why local government officials are appealing to the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Environment not to leave the communes alone, and if necessary, to also pay compensation to landowners if this will allow the preservation of greenery, because the expense will ultimately pay off.
“Gniewosz won't go to court alone”
– When calculating compensation for developers, you don't calculate compensation for residents for lost health. This is not a place just for us – says Elżbieta Pytlarz, councilor of District VIII Dębniki in Kraków.
– These green spaces will flee from cities because local government officials are intimidated in some way and have no way to defend themselves – points out Radosław Ślusarczyk from the Workshop for All Beings.
EU funds could be a shield – local government officials suggest. The minister assures that he will give money for nature in cities.
– We have secured money within next year's budget. (…) Local governments that create various forms of nature protection in their area will be able to receive this type of equalization subsidy – announces the Minister of Climate and Environment from Trzecia Droga, Paulina Hennig-Kloska.
– The state should stand on the side of the defenseless and those who cannot defend themselves, and in this case, nature is defenseless. Gniewosz won't go to court on his own, right? – says Elżbieta Pytlarz.
Main image source: TVN24