Community Hall Rental Skyrockets: Horvati Residents Protest Exorbitant Fees

The heart of the Horvati community is slowly being silenced, not by a lack of interest, but by an exorbitant price tag. For decades, the local community hall, built with the sweat and savings of its residents, served as the vibrant nucleus of social life. Weekends were booked months in advance for celebrations, family gatherings, and community events. Today, it stands empty, a stark symbol of how a vital local resource has been rendered inaccessible.

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The math is clear. We used to have over 100 uses annually, today we have zero. If this proposal is adopted, the halls will remain empty, and communities without gathering places.

The decision in August 2025 to raise the rental fee for private use from a modest 67 euros for four hours to a staggering 691 euros for six hours has effectively locked out the very people who built and sustained the space. As Vjekoslav Palijaš, President of the Local Committee, laments, "Who will pay almost 700 euros just for the space? For that money, people will go to a restaurant, if they can afford it. This is simply unattainable for most."

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Since August 1st, we haven't had a single private use. Not one. Before, every weekend was full, and now – nothing.

This isn't just about a venue; it's about the erosion of community infrastructure. Horvati, a settlement of around 1,600 residents, lacks alternative spaces for social gatherings, children's activities, or cultural events. The hall hosted judo clubs, majorettes, youth firefighters, seniors' groups, and cultural societies. It was, as Palijaš states, "not a luxury, but basic community infrastructure."

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Who will pay almost 700 euros just for the space? For that money, people will go to a restaurant, if they can afford it. This is simply unattainable for most.

The residents' attempts to engage in dialogue with the City of Zagreb have been met with indifference. Dopis, conclusions, and meeting requests have gone unanswered, leaving the community feeling unheard and disrespected. They have proposed a compromise – a rental fee of 80 euros for six hours or 150 euros for a full day – a price that reflects the hall's community value rather than an inflated market rate. This situation underscores a broader issue of how urban development and administrative decisions can inadvertently dismantle the social fabric of local communities, especially those built on self-contribution and mutual support.

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We tried everything. We did not receive a concrete answer, we were even told that there was no need for a meeting. People are bitter about this because it concerns a space they built themselves and handed over to the City for management.