Bucharest’s city center to undergo significant makeover

The General Council of Bucharest (CGMB) has approved on Tuesday several projects aimed at upgrading public spaces and parks in the city center. Part of the Unirii boulevard in Bucharest is to be revamped and turned into a pedestrian area, according to one of the projects. The Constitutiei, Lahovari, and Cantacuzino Squares will also be upgraded, as well as the green space in front of Sala Palatului, the Izvor and Sfintii Apostoli parks, and the Flowers Market. “Bucharest residents will be able to enjoy a higher number of bike lanes and a larger green space (from 173,522 sqm of green space to 191,617 sqm). PIDU (e.n. the Integrated Urban Development Plan) provides 62 investment projects in the capital, with a value of some EUR 200 million. The targeted areas are: the north part of Romana Square, the south part of the Flowers Market, the east part of Calea Mosilor, and the west part of Calea Grivitei,” said Razvan Sava, Bucharest’s interim mayor, cited by local Hotnews.ro. Despite its good intentions, the project has also triggered some critics from the civil society, mainly because it also includes cutting some 500 old trees. In late-December last year, CGMB has rejected all the upgrading projects that were targeting the city’s central area, but the projects were reintroduced on the agenda of the Council’s meeting scheduled for January 26. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (Photo source: Pmb.ro)