An examination for the demotion of an annex to the block situated at 5 Decebal Blvd in Chisinau revealed a number of risks to the building’s security. The company that plans to demolish the annex and to erect a new nine-story block instead of it refuses to clarify these aspects. According to dwellers, particular irregularities in the privatization of the annex are being hidden. The statements were made in a news conference at IPN.

Lawyer Artur Macovei said that when the construction company asked for permissive documents for performing the works, the City Hall obliged it to carry out an examination so as to see if the annex can be demolished. At that stage, it was evident to the City Hall too that the building was exposed to a serious danger and thus ordered to perform an examination.

“After examining the place, the expert produced a report and schematically showed that the possible slip line of the embankment of the existing block goes beneath the place where two underground parking stories were to be dug. We consider no intervention should be allowed in that place as a major risk is thus generated,” said the lawyer, adding the company now wants to only demolish the annex and to execute construction works.

According to Artur Macovei, at the end of 2002 Moldova’s Railways sold a number of separate rooms that it owned in that annex to a firm. In 2011 the City Hall, based on documents that are not known to the dwellers and following a visit to the scene, issued a document saying the whole annex belonged to the company. As a result, a fence was placed inside the block’s hall, dividing it into two. Later, this document was confirmed by a decision of the Chisinau Municipal Council.

In the same news conference, Lidia Gheorghiță, who heads the association of dwellers, said that no one asked for the dwellers’ consent and no one informed them about the plans related to the annex. Multiple letters were sent to the district head’s office and to the City Hall, asking to clarify the situation, but no one clearly explained how things stand.

Another lawyer, Gheorghe Macovei, said the situation is serious from the angle of legal and technical aspects related to the construction and urbanism. The authorities should intervene immediately as the construction company can execute works that generate risks to the security of the block situated near the annex. The building can partially collapse or can become fully destabilized.