str Constantin Mille, nr 12 for demolition

This lovely old building at str Constantin Mille, nr. 12 is for demolition on 21st April, see all documents HERE signed by Patrascu, Oprescu and the usual suspects responsible for protecting the city against such acts of destruction. The deed is to be carried out by the company Apolodor, who have been very busy with destruction work in the capital lately.

What is to replace it? You guessed it: an office building just by way of a change, though it will remain commercial on the ground floor. The maximum height for construction in this protected area (no. 42 - Brezoianu) is 16 (19)m but this PUZ allows 30m. Why? Who knows. Rules are made to be ignored after all. I don't even know why there is legislation in Bucharest since no one heeds it. Here is just one more proof...

Look at the beautiful ironwork on the balconies and the gorgeous roof... str C. Mille. 12 is about to become just one more martyr annihilated in the supposèd name of progress and modernisation. Why does anyone visit Italy, Vienna or Paris? Is it to admire office buildings and glass cylinders? Of course not. It is to soak up beauty found in the architecture and drink in the history that oozes out of the brickwork around every marvellous corner. Bucharest, once Little Paris of the East, is fast losing anything to admire or sigh over and we seem helpless to stop it. These houses that have survived World War II, multiple earthquakes and Ceausescu's urban planning cannot escape the cardiologist's surgical knife as it hacks its way through Bucharest, obliterating everything in its path.

Those standing up against this systematic mass destruction are facing a tsunami, a power where only money matters. The victims, sacrifices such as str C. Mille, nr. 12 count for nothing. For shame.

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My warm thanks to Micul Paris for the photos and info.

Comments

[FD]

Tu as raison Sarah, quel massacre pour cette belle ville. Détruire son passé est une honte.

[freda]

Valentin asks a valid question. What business... and who has the money to pay downtown rents apart from lawyers and dodgy outfits like that Mario Plaza on Dorobanti, known to be a money-laundering hub. The nonly new businesses evident in Bucharest are the tidal wave of stupid yuppy coffee shops and cocktail bars that are overpriced and understaffed and also the huge influx of restaurants. The house of painter S. Luchian has become a restaurant...who'd have thought it. But at least, I suppose it's SOMETHING and not a pile of rubble.

Indeed, Valentin, what businesses... better ask the 5 oligarchs of Bucharest since they own the whole damn city...

[valentin]

I wonder why ,,builings for usiness" What business?? I know demolishing and building its a way of makeng good money but renovating and selling is also properties in many places of the world. And I kep wondering? What business in Bucharest??

[Nicole]

It has become such a sad task to report buildings that are doomed to disappear. Many years ago this building housed a technical publishing house. It says it on the door: Editura tehnica.
There must be investors interested in erecting another bland, nondescript building. "Location, location, location".. is all we heard when we bought our second house. How true it is also for Bucharest...

[sairj]

I know... I know exactly what you mean and how disheartening and helpless it seems (and probably is). But David did get one up on Goliath and the tortoise did beat the hare... I don't think we have much chance either, but we can't ever regret not having tried to the bitter end. I wish I were there to do something. I'm so sorry.

I'm also sorry to be publishing this kind of stuff all the time - if anyone has any good news for me to publish instead, please let me know - houses saved, owners who get their own back, people who finally get paid for requisitioned property etc etc would be heartening indeed. A success story would give us all a lift.

30th March is a day away... here's hoping for a good result at the EU hearing. Go, Dna Macovei, GO!