The ideas were proposed by Sofia residents in the Citizens' Budget Program “Ideas for the City“, and the voting took place through the “Sofia Decides” platform. A total of 11,589 Sofia residents took part in the initiative, with 7,105 voting online and 4,484 voting on site at the regional administrations, Stolitsa specifies.
The citizens' ideas were divided into two categories. One is for a city-wide budget for projects that benefit the entire city, and the other is for regional civic projects. 26 projects were admitted to the first category, with the idea for preparing a project for a major renovation of the bathhouse in “Gorna Banya“ garnering the most votes. Since the cost of the project is 250,000 leva, and the budget to be allocated under the Program is 500,000 leva, the City Budget Commission proposed that the South Park lakes project also receive funding. The proposal was approved by the Deputy Mayor for Finance and Healthcare Ivan Vassilev and the project will be implemented.
In the coming days, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev will create a Public Council to monitor the implementation of the two projects. It will include the citizens who proposed the projects, as well as residents from other areas of the city. This will comply with the principle of transparency and civic participation, which is the basis of the Citizen Budget Program.
More about the two projects The preparation of a project for the implementation of a major renovation of the bathroom in the Gorna Banya district is the first step towards the urgently needed major renovation. The project will be awarded after the Municipal Council acquires ownership of the building. Design is a basic and mandatory step before carrying out actual renovation activities. After preparing the necessary project documentation, funds can also be allocated for the renovation of the bathroom, which is a cultural monument.
The proposal “South Park Lakes“ (the lakes are natural type) covers and envisages intervention only on the lakes and parts of them located in the South Park terrains, which are municipal property. The main activities include restoration, repair and cleaning of existing water facilities, canals, ditches, spillways, manholes and water pipes for effective drainage and prevention of flooding and erosion. The project includes the repair and restoration of paths and benches, which will allow and expand access to usable areas in order to achieve long-term improvement of the park environment and create a more accessible and welcoming place for visitors.
Detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by city and neighborhood can be seen HERE