Institutions of the Environment Ministry like the Black Sea Watershed Directorate gave permission to cut trees in Irakli. The Ministry announced yesterday that for the first 6 month of the year 1637 investment projects for the Nature 2000 protected areas have been submitted with the Ministry. All requests to build in the protected areas will be subject to special appraisal.
The Luxembourg investment company Rose Valley Investments whose management includes the brother of the former Finance Minister, started legal action against the deal for the sports facility in Banya.
The Ministry of Environment sets up a registry of the investment projects in the areas that are part of NATURE 2000 Program. The registry will provide information on the projects that passed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) procedures but still don’t have building licenses in order to assess them under the NATURE 2000 Program.
The economies in Eastern Europe will be affected by the global financial crisis and their economic growth will slow down. Five countries, among which is Bulgaria, are most vulnerable, states the chief economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Erik Berglof. In some of these countries construction and real estate sectors have developed too rapidly and need to be cooled off. Otherwise, the effect of the crisis will be felt in the long-run because it will be more difficult to receive cheap loans on the world markets.
These days the rich Bulgarians invest in art, leisure, golf, skiing and luxury real estate, says Vesela Ilieva, executive manager of Unique Estates. They show interest in properties not only in Bulgaria but also abroad, she added.
Prices of residential properties have stabilized for the last three months. The most popular neighborhoods are in the downtown area, Mladost, Iztok, and Izgrev.
According to a recent survey held in 17 European countries 94% of Bulgarians own their homes which ranks the country first in Europe. Brokers register a 3% increase of that indicator as compared to 2005. 60% of Bulgarian own more than one home, the survey also shows.
The BAS assessment of the draft laws for Nature 2000 areas on the Black Sea Coast ended with a conclusion which confirmed the initial plans. This month the municipalities have to change their zoning plans and exclude the Nature 2000 areas from them. Only for the first six months of the year 1637 investment projects were submitted with the Ministry of Environment for environmental assessment.
The dormitories in the Student City in Sofia will be transformed into hotels. The buildings will be divided in two categories. Some of the buildings will be transferred to private companies for renovation and refurbishment.
Mital is not willing to sell Kremikovtsi, announced the CEO of the plant Alexander Tomov thus rejecting the proposal of Sofia municipal councilors and chief architect Dikov to close the plant and build a finical and industrial business center in its place. Claims were made that real estate companies are lobbying for the plant to be closed.
Two projects in Sofia will be financed from the capital increase of City Developments: a residential building on Cherni Vrah blvd. and one in Ovcha Kupel. The Fund alos plans to build a residential complex in Gorna Banya.
Most probably Soffiski Imoti will be sold in parts. The exact procedure will become clear when the legal analysis and appraisal of the controversial company is fully completed.
The new amendments of the law will be adopted by the end of the year. According to the new provisions the chief architects in the municipal administrations will issue orders for utilization for construction works of fifth and sixth category.
The Privatization Agency will auction 100% of the National Permanent Exhibition at a starting price of 800 000 BGN. The company owns several properties of which the most attractive are a building on Dondukov blvd. with build-up area of 2120 sq.m and a land lot of 4500 sq.m.
A registry of all investment projects submitted for approval with the Ministry of Environment and its regional inspectorates will be established. All new projects as well as project undergoing Environmental Impact Assessment will be entered into the registry.
The project of the new mall Plovdiv Gallery will be presented tonight by the investors - European Convergence Property Company and Development Company.
The Ministry of Environment will establish an internal registry for investment projects in protected areas, announced Nikolai Nedyalkov, head of Nature 2000 Directorate.
The European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF may inspect the biggest deal in Karlovo in which the municipality transferred its entire property in the village of Banya. The warning came from Mihail Ekimdjiev who represents the Luxembourg investment company "Rose Valley Investment". In his opinion the decision was taken in a non-transparent way and to the benefit of less competitive bids.
Interview with Vesela Ilieva, CEO of Unique Estates about the future of luxury neighborhoods and the situation on the market of luxury apartments and houses at present.
Some of the municipalities on the Black Sea Coast ignore their obligations to protect the areas to be included in Nature 2000. The Minister of Environment announced that the Ministry is trying to curb that trend and make additional inspections.
A luxury one bedroom apartment with maid costs 380 Euro per month in the southern regions of Sofia. The prices for the upscale southern neighborhoods vary from 150 to 900 Euro. Beli Brezi is one of the most attractive neighborhoods in Sofia.