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Zagreb Assembly Clash Over Square Renovation and Stadium Reconstruction Costs
🇭🇷 Croatia /Energy & Infrastructure

Zagreb Assembly Clash Over Square Renovation and Stadium Reconstruction Costs

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Zagreb city assembly member criticized the mayor for the cost and apparent futility of renovating Krešimir Ćosić Square.
  • The square was renovated for 745,000 euros but was subsequently damaged by heavy machinery during the Dom sportova stadium's reconstruction.
  • The mayor defended the square's renovation, citing its poor condition and the necessity of thicker paving stones for future work, while acknowledging the stadium's reconstruction will take until 2028.

A heated exchange occurred in the Zagreb City Assembly over the renovation of Krešimir Ćosić Square and the ongoing reconstruction of the Dom sportova sports hall. Mislav Krasić, a representative from the Drito party, questioned Mayor Tomislav Tomašević about the progress and cost of the square's renovation, which amounted to 745,000 euros including VAT.

Did we have to leave the square with holes until the end of 2028?

— Mayor Tomislav TomaševićResponding to a question about the necessity of renovating Krešimir Ćosić Square.

Krasić expressed dismay that the newly renovated square was subsequently damaged by heavy machinery used in the Dom sportova reconstruction. He argued that the city had spent money on the square's renewal only to see it destroyed, and questioned the lack of progress on the second phase of the Dom sportova renovation.

You paid for the renovation only for heavy machinery to devastate it later. You spent money on renovating the square, knowing that heavy machinery would destroy it.

— Mislav KrasićCriticizing the city's handling of the square's renovation and subsequent damage.

Mayor Tomašević defended the decision to renovate the square, stating it was in a terrible condition with holes and a non-functional fountain. He argued that leaving it in that state was not an option. He explained that thicker paving stones were used during the square's renovation, anticipating future construction work. The Dom sportova, Croatia's largest sports facility, has been awaiting renovation for two decades, with the current roof reconstruction expected to take until 2028 in three phases. The construction site also includes the Mladost Winter Swimming Pool.

No one started the renovation of Dom sportova for 20 years because they knew what was being done there.

— Mayor Tomislav TomaševićExplaining the long delay in the stadium's reconstruction.

Despite the mayor's explanations, Krasić insisted that the repeated repairs to Krešimir Ćosić Square would incur further costs. He criticized the lack of coordination in project planning, asking who would ultimately pay for the additional expenses, given that the city knew the Dom sportova renovation would damage the square.

There was no coordination during project planning. Who will pay for this cost? You knew that the renovation of Dom sportova would destroy the square.

— Mislav KrasićQuestioning the financial and planning aspects of the dual construction projects.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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