August 5 (BTA) - Tuesday evening saw a live chain
surround the Tsentralni Hali covered market in downtown Sofia,
demanding that the historic building be preserved and that the
authorities halt plans to turn it into a supermarket. The
protest was organized by the Save Sofia NGO.

One of the oldest covered markets in Bulgaria, Tsentralni Hali
was built in 1911 and  combines the then rare Neo-Byzantine and
Secession styles. In 1988 it was closed for reconstruction and
renovation. In 1995 it was awarded the status of monument of
culture of national importance. In 2000, it opened again after
Israeli company Ashtrom made a joint venture with Sofia City
Hall and invested in the preservation of the building. Later,
Sofia City Hall sold its share and now Ashtrom is the sole owner
 of the capital. Last week it emerged that the German retailer
Kaufland has concluded a preliminary contract for the purchase
of the emblematic building and plans to turn it into a
supermarket

The covered market building is unique, ready-made to contribute
to SofiaТs economic and tourist development, with its numerous
shops of small traders, artisans, cafes and eateries. The
protestors say they donТt want to see that transformed into an
impersonal supermarket of the kind that is omnipersent across
Bulgaria.

The protesters expect the Ministry of Culture not to support the
 transformation project before it undergoes detailed analysis.
They also demanded that Sofia City Hall take a stand on the
matter.

Caretaker Culture Minister Velislav Minekov extold the
protestors that he could not stop the project because the
building is private property. УIt needs restoration and
maintenance,Ф he added.

Save Sofia municipal councilor Boris Bonev said the investor
should not continue working on the project in the dark and
should keep the public informed.

According to Save Sofia, hundreds of people joined the
live-chain protest on Wednesday. BR

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