YI could put picturesque property on the market

Two years ago, Yours Investment (YI) bought a century-old house at Al. Jerozolimskie 63, with the intention of transforming it into a modern office building.

Originally, the investor's plans did not raise any objection, but when the developer said it wanted to demolish the building, the Mazovian conservator's office added the building to the heritage list. This was subsequently annulled by Ryszard Mikliński, former Deputy Minister of Culture and National Heritage. A few months ago, the Mazovian voivodship conservator's office once again began procedures to stop the demolition of the building.

Yours Investment, which is owned by famous photographer Tomasz Gudzowaty - the son of Aleksander Gudzowaty who is one of the richest people in Poland - again appealed the case to higher authorities.

"We submitted an appeal against the Heritage Office's verdict to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, in which we pointed out several procedural mistakes," said Tomasz Konczewski from Wojciech Tomczyk Law Firm, which is representing Yours Investment. "In its conclusion, we stated the verdict hasn't proved the significant value of the building that would justify placing it on the list."

Despite this, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage last week issued its final decision and again placed the property on the heritage list.

While waiting for the final decision, Yours Investment has decided to explore the possibility of selling the property, and put a price tag of EUR 7 (zł.28) million on it. It originally paid around EUR 4 (zł.16) for the building.

"First of all, the Al. Jerozolimskie 63 estate carries significant historical value and this is why we decided to place it on the heritage list," said Maciej Czeredys, the deputy voivodship conservator of Mazovia. "It also has an important role in the whole 19th-century block of buildings in that area of Warsaw's center, which are subject to continuous scientific research."

Czeredys also added that the original photographic documentation of the building is available and could be used for future renovation work. If renovation takes place, the original material of the building, such as the bricks, will have to be preserved.

Piotr Paciorek