2024-04-20 11:28:21
The Metropolitan Municipality to acquire the three parking lots under the NDK, which are public-state property. This is what the municipal councilor from PP-DB-SS Boris Bonev proposes in a report.
As part of the construction of the NDK, at least three underground parking lots were built. Each with a different status: parking lot 1 is on “Fr. Nansen” Blvd., with an area of 6567 sq. m., which is privately owned. Parking lot 2 is on Vitosha Blvd. and is public-state property. Parking lot 3 is on “Pencho Slaveikov” Blvd., with a total area of 2714 square meters, which is public state property.
If the municipality acquires them, it will be obliged to repair them, and they can only be used for parking lots. “We propose that part of the parking spaces be reserved only for residents, i.e. holders of a vignette sticker for the relevant subzone, but this will be the subject of a separate analysis, report and regulation upon successful completion of the transfer of ownership,” Bonev wrote.
“Given the nature of the historic part of the center, the architectural protection guaranteed by law, the town planning features of the area, the lack of undeveloped municipal spaces, as well as the presence of archeology, the choice of locations for the construction of new multi-storey garages, especially underground ones, is very limited “, writes Bonev.
And he recalls that after careful analysis and research, it became clear that there are several potential locations, but on the periphery of the historic city center: an underground parking lot under Vazrazhdane Square, a multi-storey garage next to the Medical Academy metro station, next to the Vasil Levski National Stadium and under “Kn. Maria Luiza” Blvd. – north of Lviv Most Square. “All of them are at an exploratory stage and there is a long process of design, selection of a contractor, securing financing, as well as time and a complex construction process in a densely built-up area,” Bonev also writes.
He also reminds that the price for parking in the blue zone has not been changed since its introduction in 2012, and there is a serious load of incoming traffic around the National Palace of Culture, including on Sundays. In the “Service Subscription” mode, the places are not limited enough, and a number of state institutions circumvent the rules and usurp parts of the municipal public infrastructure without having the right to do so. All these factors make parking in the center difficult, especially for those living in the area,” Bonev also wrote.
The official data of the Central Government on occupancy of the three sub-zones that touch the NDK (sub-zones 2, 3 and 10) show that the problems with parking due to the insufficient number of parking spaces, the many issued vignette stickers and service subscriptions, are precisely there. “It should be borne in mind that the National Palace of Culture itself attracts thousands of visitors every day due to the diverse calendar of events, which further burdens the transport infrastructure,” writes Bonev.
Despite the acute shortage of parking spaces, especially in this part of the center, as can be seen from the data presented above, two of the underground parking lots are not being used. The one with entrance-exit from “Vitosha” Blvd. (Parking 2) is used only for rent for a printing house. Parking lot 3, with entrance and exit from “Pencho Slaveykov” Blvd., has been closed for years.
“We believe that the use of the available valuable space in the center of Sofia is far from optimal and does not serve the public interest or contribute to the improvement of transport in the capital. The three facilities were built with the aim of being a key part of the city’s transport infrastructure, but camo makivas are not used,” Bonev also writes.