Church, Government and Zagreb reach agreement on new Maksimir Stadium construction
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Maksimir stadium (Photo credit: Marko Vrdoljak/Zagreb Tourist Board)
The Croatian Government, the City of Zagreb, and the Zagreb Archdiocese have reached an agreement on the construction of the Maksimir Stadium.
According to the agreement, the Church will withdraw its demand for the return of properties at the specified location. In return, it will receive ten other locations in the capital city, as announced by the City of Zagreb on Thursday, Sportske novosti reported.
“The Government of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb commit to ensuring conditions for the construction or reconstruction of ten churches or other Catholic Church buildings in Zagreb within the next two years. The locations include Botinec, Sveta Klara/Podbrežje, Jakuševec, Blato, Jelkovec/Sopnica, Sesvetska Sela, Sesvetski Kraljevec, Kajzerica, Špansko Zapad, and Trnjanska Savica,” the statement from the City of Zagreb said.
This is the result of an agreement between the City, the Government, and the Zagreb Archdiocese to resolve property and legal matters necessary for the construction of a new city stadium in Maksimir.
The agreement will be implemented through two agreements expected to be signed this month: one between the City of Zagreb and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and the other between the Government and the Zagreb Archdiocese, as stated in the announcement.
“The agreements define the Zagreb Archdiocese’s abandonment of initiated procedures seeking the natural return of properties, establishing that the City of Zagreb is the sole owner of the properties planned for the construction of the new Maksimir Stadium,” conveyed the City of Zagreb. The text of the agreement enabling the construction or reconstruction of Catholic Church buildings at ten locations in Zagreb needs approval from the Zagreb City Assembly at the meeting on December 12.
Proposed new stadium (Photo credit: GNK Dinamo)
The City of Zagreb has commissioned a feasibility study that will define accompanying facilities for the new stadium in Maksimir, ensuring the sustainability of the investment since public funds will not be used for stadium construction. Subsequently, a public urban-architectural competition will be announced for the design of the new Dinamo stadium and its surrounding area.
This resolves the property and legal dispute over the Maksimir land that has been ongoing since 1997.
