Warsaw, full of architectural contrasts and dynamic changes, is once again becoming an arena of conflict between landowners and capital officials. In the midst of historical and modern buildings, in the immediate vicinity of the Palace of Culture and Science and the newly established Museum of Modern Art, a huge advertisement for cryptocurrencies has appeared. There would be nothing unusual about this, were it not for the fact that the medium was illegally erected on a private plot of land, ignoring the local zoning plan.
Dispute over a plot of land at Marszałkowska and Świętokrzyska streets
The structure with the advertising hoarding stood at the intersection of Marszałkowska and Świętokrzyska streets – in the very centre of the city, right next to the entrance to one of the main metro stations. The huge advertisement was mounted on scaffolding that rests on europallets and stone foundations. The area where it was erected has been controversial for years. In the past, there have been commercial pavilions, food stalls and even a restaurant set up inside an old plane. More recently, the plot was occupied by the Miniature Park, which fell victim to devastation and was closed down. We wrote about it HERE. When the site was finally tidied up, it seemed that this was the end of the problems. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Huge publicity and the intervention of officials
According to the capital’s City Hall, the new construction is illegal. The local zoning plan prohibits the installation of advertising in Swietokrzyski Park, which includes this plot of land. The city has reported the matter to the District Building Control Inspectorate, which can order the demolition of the structure. The company whose advertisement hangs on the structure says it is verifying the compliance of the carrier with the regulations. A Zondacrypto representative assured that the company is in talks with Mega Board, the company responsible for providing the advertising space.
Lack of landscape resolution hinders fight against illegal advertisements
If Warsaw had a landscape resolution, the city could effectively fight illegal advertisements by imposing high fines on their owners. Unfortunately, the document was invalidated by the Mazovian Voivode in 2020, and two years later the Constitutional Court undermined its legal basis. As a result, the fight against illegal constructions on the basis of building and administrative regulations is arduous and often ineffective. Even if the removal of an advertisement is achieved, a new one often appears in its place, forcing officials to restart the procedure.
History of a problematic plot of land
The Parade Square plot is an area with a turbulent history. In 2008, the Strasbourg Court awarded it to the heir of the pre-war owner, Tadeusz Koss. After the man’s death in 2020, his children sold the land to an anonymous buyer. Although the local development plan only provides for green space on the site, the new owners are not giving up on trying to use the land commercially.
What next for illegal advertising?
The town hall announces further action and hopes for the intervention of the building inspectorate. It is possible that the owner himself will decide to dismantle the structure, as he has done in the past. However, given the history of the plot, it cannot be ruled out that another controversial object will soon appear there.
Source: tvn24.pl, raportwarszawski.pl
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