Red Tape Hot Box on Gold, but tarnished
If you've recently been to the Museum of Warsaw where the exhibition of prewar photos is held, you would have no doubts that it would have been beautiful. Nevertheless, there is no point in brooding too much on the past. What's done is done and we must cope with it. Of course Warsaw's image has changed over the last 50 years-and many feel a good deal of the structures built after 1945 are monstrously ugly.
Nevertheless, we cannot deny that since the days when it was left in ruins Warsaw has become a metropolitan city once more. I'm proud to mention that our city has again advanced in the European Cities Monitor-an annual ranking that analyzes the attractiveness of European cities as business locations. This year Warsaw was number 20 in the general classification. Only Prague in Central and Eastern Europe was ranked higher than the Polish capital.
The categories taken under consideration included profitability and relative values obtained in return for money spent on renting office space, availability of qualified staff and the atmosphere for business growth.
But how long can Warsaw hold on to such a ranking among its European peers? There are certainly doubts, especially when you consider issues like the controversy surrounding the biggest investment in the center of Warsaw-the Golden Terraces. There's been a big hold-up in the project, caused by the infamous ecological association Przyjazne Miasto (Friendly City). The project was punished for the mistakes made by a council official who did not notify Przyjazne Miasto about the planned investment, thus depriving the association of participation in the administrative procedures. In such circumstances, according to the court, Przyjazne Miasto had the right to file a complaint.
"Although the court decision was a surprise to us, because we do not know of a case of a construction project stopped at such an advanced stage of realization, we will meet the requirements of the law," said Andrzej Mogielnicki, director of investments at ING.
About two months ago the company filed a last appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court (NSA), requesting that the court revoke the decision and send the case for reconsideration or else reject Przyjazne Miasto's complaint. If the NSA were to uphold the decision, this would be a signal that Warsaw is a city with a high investment risk. It would also mean Warsaw can say goodbye to its high ranking on the European Cities Monitor list as well as many potential investments.
Nevertheless, we cannot deny that since the days when it was left in ruins Warsaw has become a metropolitan city once more. I'm proud to mention that our city has again advanced in the European Cities Monitor-an annual ranking that analyzes the attractiveness of European cities as business locations. This year Warsaw was number 20 in the general classification. Only Prague in Central and Eastern Europe was ranked higher than the Polish capital.
The categories taken under consideration included profitability and relative values obtained in return for money spent on renting office space, availability of qualified staff and the atmosphere for business growth.
But how long can Warsaw hold on to such a ranking among its European peers? There are certainly doubts, especially when you consider issues like the controversy surrounding the biggest investment in the center of Warsaw-the Golden Terraces. There's been a big hold-up in the project, caused by the infamous ecological association Przyjazne Miasto (Friendly City). The project was punished for the mistakes made by a council official who did not notify Przyjazne Miasto about the planned investment, thus depriving the association of participation in the administrative procedures. In such circumstances, according to the court, Przyjazne Miasto had the right to file a complaint.
"Although the court decision was a surprise to us, because we do not know of a case of a construction project stopped at such an advanced stage of realization, we will meet the requirements of the law," said Andrzej Mogielnicki, director of investments at ING.
About two months ago the company filed a last appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court (NSA), requesting that the court revoke the decision and send the case for reconsideration or else reject Przyjazne Miasto's complaint. If the NSA were to uphold the decision, this would be a signal that Warsaw is a city with a high investment risk. It would also mean Warsaw can say goodbye to its high ranking on the European Cities Monitor list as well as many potential investments.
