ORCO PROPERTY GROUP | Media
Media
Złota 44: Orco meets with local authorities to seek support for a rapid confirmation of building permit
Orco Property Group’s President, CEO and Founder Jean-François Ott arrived in Warsaw today to meet with the French Ambassador - His Excellence Francois Barry Delongchamps, Vice- Governor of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship- Mr. Dariusz Piątek, respectively, as well as the Vice-Mayor of Warsaw - Mr. Jacek Wojciechowicz. Mr. Ott requested their support in accelerating the conclusion of more than two years of administrative procedures so that the Złota 44 building permit can be confirmed and construction can resume this year. These meetings come three weeks after the Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) decided to send this matter to the Governor of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship for additional consideration thereby further delaying the renewal of construction.
“The perceived ineffectiveness of the local system, widely commented on by the local and international press, is an embarrassment for Warsaw and Poland. The active and continuous involvement of local authorities is therefore absolutely essential to overcoming this perception and conquering the bureaucratic obstacles before us. I thank the City Center District Mayor Mr. Wojciech Bartelski who actively supported Złota 44 by, among other things, requesting an accelerated proceeding before the NSA. I kindly request the Governor and the Mayor to do everything in their power to quickly reinstate this building permit. I am determined to complete Złota 44 for the benefit of Orco’s clients, shareholders and business partners. If progress remains blocked, I will have no alternative but to seek justice at the international level.”– stated Jean-François Ott.
Orco is a leading investor, developer and asset manager in the Central European real estate and hospitality market. In 2008, through its subsidiary, Orco Property Sp. z o.o., Orco began implementing the design of Daniel Libeskind, a world-renowned American architect of Polish origin, for a 192‑metre high, 54-floor apartment tower epitomizing the modern, metropolitan nature of Warsaw.
While the financial crisis initially brought the project to a standstill, efforts to resume construction have since been blocked by the judicial authorities - first the Voivodeship Administrative Court (WSA) and later the NSA. The WSA first revoked the validation of the building permit based on the groundless accusations of 7 neighbours. Orco then suspended this revocation by appealing it to the NSA such that the building permit remained valid, but not effective. In turn, the NSA challenged the justification of the Governor’s decision despite it having been obtained legally and in accordance with applicable procedures. Significantly, the NSA confirmed that Orco did not commit any errors. Once the written verdict is delivered from the NSA to the Governor, the Governor will have 30 days to confirm the effectiveness of Złota 44 building permit. Unfortunately, to date the written verdict has not been delivered and as such, three additional weeks have now been wasted as the 30 day deadline has not even started.
“Given the overwhelming support we have received locally and throughout the international business community, I have no doubt that together we will overcome these temporary challenges so that Złota 44 can be built. Completing Złota 44 by EURO 2012 is essential not only to demonstrate Orco’s reliability and trustworthiness, but also to demonstrate Warsaw’s modernisation and commitment to foreign investors. ” – concluded Jean-François Ott.