Boost from Bucharest
Close to 50 Romanian builders are already at work in Łód thanks to a deal between Opal Property Developments (OPD) and a subcontractor from Romania. The company expects more than 200 additional workers to join, as the pace of construction on the Księżny Młyn project gains momentum.
OPD's transformation of the 19th century Karol Scheibler textile factory into a residential loft complex represents only a fraction of the Księżny Młyn project. The future 50,000-sqm, mixed-use complex will offer services, offices and a museum.
In order to comply with its timeline, which foresees the completion of lofts in the former Scheibler factory by the end of next year, OPD has partnered up with SC Isroconstruct, the Polish subsidiary of a top-ranking Romanian contractor. The contractor will provide OPD with qualified workers in the face of the labor shortage hampering the Polish construction market.
As citizens of one of the EU's newest member states, Romanian workers do not present the same legal difficulties as builders from non-member nations. OPD has confirmed that labor costs for the new workers, who include engineers, project managers and construction workers, will be the same as those of Polish workers.
"SC Isroconstruct is an expert with 15 years of experience on similar projects around the world," says Simon McMahon, OPD's financial director.
"Revitalization projects are among the most complex endeavors on the real-estate market and it was imperative to find a trusted partner who could assure a highly qualified workforce," he says.
