In Fight over Zagreb Development, Activists Win Battle, War Goes on

Like in Belgrade, the Zagreb development has been met with a chorus of criticism from architects, activists and city residents concerned over transparency, sidestepping of procedures and the loss of public and green spaces to plush and pricey residential and commercial towers of glass and steel.

Wily political operator

Protest at Zagreb's main square, which brought together more than 20,000 citizens who protested against the two-decades long rule of Mayor Milan Bandic. Photo: BIRN.

The development requires conversion of the land via amendments to the urban plan, which city councillors rejected.

"We see that people feel terrible powerlessness in front of bulldozers which come and destroy their environment, their immediate surroundings, their parks, that pollute their air and so on," Marcetic said of a growing trend of public activism in protection of public spaces.

Marcetic warned that, even if Bandic abandons the project, it could yet cost the city.

"The allegedly non-binding memorandum contains binding articles," Marcetic told BIRN.

"In the event that this project fails… Eagle Hills can sue the city of Zagreb before the arbitration court in Paris for compensation for all costs Eagle Hills have incurred in preparing the project."

Bandic, a wily political operator, is no stranger to controversy after two decades in power in Zagreb.

Fond of erecting fountains and monuments, his critics accuse of him of recklessness and a cavalier attitude to transparency.

In Zagreb Manhattan, he may have come unstuck.

Residents of Zagreb were particularly sensitive to the fate of the Zagreb Fair. Steeped in history, parts of the Fair are protected as cultural monuments.

Marcetic said the...