This is one of the investments that arouse the greatest emotions in Wrocław. It is about the development of old buildings swimming pools at ul. Paderewskiego, in the Olympic complex in Wrocław.
This is where many cultural events take place, including large music festivals in the summer. Moreover, the speedway team Sparta Wrocław plays its matches here, and its performances are very popular in the capital of Lower Silesia.
The case was repeatedly described by “Gazeta Wrocławska”. A developer operating under the name Dolnośląskie Inwestycje decided to build a large housing estate here, although he avoids such a name.
As he says, it is meant to be “collective residence facility in the formula of a modern dormitory”. The plan is to build 375 premises for rent, a service area, catering, sports and rehabilitation facilities, a bicycle room and common spaces for students, athletes and people using the Olympic Stadium complex. The name of the investment is Start Park.
Speedway is here to stay
At the beginning of May, Tomasz Majda, representative of the management board of Dolnośląskie Inwestycje, caused quite a stir with his statement to the website tuWrocław.pl.
— We also received a lot of messages, calls and comments. One particular topic came up very often: whether in the future someone could try to limit the normal functioning of the stadium — speedway, training, lights, stadium announcements and sporting events, he said. The company announced that it wanted to talk about it with the authorities of the Olympic Stadium.
Many people interpreted this as an attempt to limit sports activities. Speedway is quite a specific sport. First of all, it is popular among Wrocław residents and match tickets sell out quickly. Secondly, it involves a lot of noise from speedway motorcycles. Not only during matches, but also during training.
This statement enraged the fans, but also the city authorities and the speedway club Sparta Wrocław. Even the developer's assurance that “we cannot imagine the Olympic Stadium without speedway and without Sparta Wrocław” and that “speedway was here first” did not help.
In fact, city movements, fans and local residents have already expressed considerable opposition to the investment.
Harsh messages from Sparta and the president
In the middle of the month, the authorities of Sparta Wrocław gave a strong response to the developer. They did not like the fact that during the May speedway match, representatives of the developer appeared in front of the stadium and handed out leaflets to fans, which could have given the impression that the club supported the investment.
Sparta, however, explained that, according to the club, it was “an investment by Mr volume not adapted to the nature of the surroundingsdirectly adjacent to the Main Stadium and having no connection with improving sports infrastructure or making this place more attractive for fans.
“From the club's perspective, it's planned we assess the investment as very harmful” wrote club representatives.
“The developer is trying to convince with slogans that the investment will create a place for sports and fans. This is a manipulation, the Olympic Stadium, which underwent general renovation and revitalization a few years ago, is such a place,” we read.
Sparta's representatives admit that they are afraid of a return to the history of the Poznań Track, which was closed because it generated too much noise.
See also: Poznań track closed. CIEP found it too noisy
On a side note, there is currently a dispute in Wrocław over the airport, which – according to residents of some housing estates – generates too much noise and disturbs life. The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency has even designed new takeoff and landing paths from the Wrocław port.
But let's get back to the Olympic Stadium. In the second half of May, the mayor of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, commented on the matter.
He admitted that he was critical of the decision of the Academy of Physical Education, which sold the land to the developer almost 15 years ago. It is worth emphasizing that the developer wants to build in accordance with the local development plan and applicable regulations.
“I would like to clearly emphasize that I negatively assess this decision of the university, while understanding its difficult financial situation at that time. This decision resulted in the integrity of this site has been violated by allowing another non-public entity onto the historic campus” wrote Sutryk.
He also admitted that his hands were tied. “Both me as the President and we as the community of this city Today, unfortunately, we are hostages of decisions made over recent years. These decisions significantly limit our current legal room for maneuver,” we read in the statement.
Sutryk himself revealed that he offered Dolnośląskie Inwestycje to buy the land in 2021, but his offer remained unanswered.
A committed conservator, ministry and MEP
The Lower Silesian Provincial Conservator of Monuments states directly that the Start Park investment is a detriment to the monument. In turn, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage points out that the provisions of the local development plan were twice repealed by the courts, but the Supreme Administrative Court restored the validity of the building permit.
Legally, there is therefore little that can be done. There are only political measures left, which he is trying to use, among others: Left MEP Krzysztof Śmiszek. He submitted an application for the Olympic Grounds at Al. Paderewski in Wrocław to be granted UNESCO protection status.
— These areas are unique not only on the scale of Wrocław or Lower Silesia, but also on the scale of Europe. And in my opinion, building there or allowing the construction of something that can clearly disturb the architectural coherence as well as the historical and environmental coherence of this place will be an irreversible loss for world culture – he said.
As he said, he made three interventions in this case. He asked UNESCO to consider whether the area of the former swimming pool should be granted protection status. In addition, he asked the EU European Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, as well as the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Marta Cienkowska, to look at the planned construction.
– These areas have been a gem of Wrocław for over 80 years and they really deserve not only the international opinion to know about them, but also international institutions to provide these areas with special protection – Śmiszek told PAP.
