A group of dwellers of an apartment building on Dimo Street in Chisinau protested on Saturday against the construction of a mansard roof on the top of the building, accusing the constructor of ignoring quality and security standards. The protesters claim that cracks appeared in the walls of the building and the wall coating is coming off here and there. “At first I consented to the building of the mansard roof because my ceiling was leaking”, says a woman living on the upper floor, “they told us that prior to starting the work, they would show us all the papers confirming that the building was firm enough to withstand. I gave my assent to the construction of a mansard roof, not to the destruction of our block”. The protesters also say that the construction company failed to collect signatures from all the residents and that they ignored quality standards in building the garret. “During the cold spell, we saw them mix salt in the cement so that it didn't freeze. We had to intervene and stop them”, said another woman. The residents note that the building is 50 years old and is not in the best state. People from the neighborhood joined the protest, saying they feared that a similar situation could happen to them too. At the same time, Maxim Melenti, the representative of the constructor, claimed the company had all required documentation and all the necessary signatures, fulfilling all its commitments before the residents by replacing the windows, the piping and by renewing the facade. The construction of mansard roofs in Chisinau is mandated under a municipal project aiming to provide accessible housing. 161 construction authorizations for mansard roofs have been issued since 2007.