Traders do not like project to modernize Central Market

The companies and persons selling products at the Central Market in Chisinau are not contented with the City Hall's intention to extend and modernize the area. In a meeting of architects and traders, the latter said not everyone will be able to sell at a modern market. The project was presented to them on June 1. The authors said all the suggestions made by the traders will be taken into account, Info-Prim Neo reports Though deputy mayor Nistor Grozavu said the taxes for renting selling areas will not increase significantly after reconstruction and the private buildings will not be demolished, the traders expressed their skepticism. Under the project, new shopping centers, modernized halls and parking garages will be built on the territory of the Central Market by 2025. Nistor Grozavu stressed the market will continue work while the construction works will be carried out. Mihai Coretski, architect of the Chisinau-Proiect Institute, said all the buildings will have at most four stories. They will include selling areas and offices. The head of the Central Market Ion Stratulat told the traders that the project will help modernize the rooms, extend the storage facilities and deal with the heavy traffic around the market. “Everyone should have access to the market. An old woman with a bucket of cherries will not be able to sell them. I think the market will be managed by persons who pursue certain interests and the ordinary people will suffer the consequences,” said trader Nina Gospodin. “We know that the City Hall has good intentions, but we face many problems every day. In order to start a construction, one should obtain a lot of authorizations, lose time and spend money. I doubt the feasibility of this project,” said another seller. Chisinau councilor Valeri Climenco said he will follow attentively how the project is examined and approved by the City Council. “It is dangerous to leave this project in the hands of racketeers and criminals. The project must be implemented in accordance with the law,” he said. The project envisions the construction of a parking garage with 1,400 places and of underground passages that will connect Bulgara St under the multistory building located on Stefan cel Mare Blvd. An underground five-story parking garage will provide 850 places. The value of the project hasn't been yet determined.