Stiliyan Yotov is Professor of History of Philosophy at Sofia University “St. He is a professor of philosophy at St. Kliment Ohridski University, a native of Varna. He observes various problems in his hometown, among which are the long-standing promises for the reconstruction of Chatalja market. The subject is connected with quite a few curious details and irregularities, about which he has published in various media. The current development also raises questions, for which we feature his opinion offered to the editorial team:
In 2013, Mr Ivan Portnih ran for mayor of Varna with a promise to redevelop Chatalja Market, but after winning the election his promise did not come true while he was mayor for the next 10 years.
In 2023, Mr Blazmir Kotsev ran for mayor of Varna with a promise to redevelop Chatalja market, but after winning the election his promise is about to stumble in the games of “drunken carrot” organized in the local parliament.
Because for any construction initiative to start, a detailed development plan (DDP) has to be drawn up, and there has never been one for a market place. Even though it has been built up beyond any norms. What is unthinkable for any citizen does not apply to a municipal trading company! And apparently it has impressed the Chairman of the Municipal Council (MC) to speak out even in the media, “Our desire is that the Chatalja Market should not be just cosmetically renovated but should be seen as an opportunity to create something functional and useful for the citizens…. should start with the preparation of a Master Plan -DP to get a real idea of the possibilities of the plot.”
Yes, but no! In the minutes of the meeting of the Standing Committee “Property and Economy” of the Municipal Council of 11.06.2024 it can be read that there were “debates and a large number of questions raised”, but the item was withdrawn and that’s it. Thanks to media publications the veil around the curtain seems to have been lifted slightly:
“Hristo Atanasov said the issue opens up many questions such as where would the traders go while any future construction work is going on. He stated that if there is indeed a City Council decision from 2013 to develop a Master Plan, it should be presented along with the history of the developments surrounding the case over the years. The Councillor stated that the way in which the item was being presented for consideration was not acceptable. At his request the item was withdrawn from the agenda.”
It is evident that some councillors view one of their trading companies not in terms of town planning rules, not in terms of the principles of equality of commercial entities operating in the country, but in terms of the racket of the traders themselves, just as at a national level it is the pub landlords who are most important.
I would like to remind the following
“Hristo Atanasov” is the name of the municipal councillor who submitted the proposal on 20.02.2013: “to entrust the Board of Directors of “Markets” EAD to undertake all the necessary actions for the preparation of the Master Plan for the property (market place “Chatalja”)”. The addendum in question (whose faulty grammar has preserved the amplification of “necessary” with “all”) was voted “in bundle” with the text of “the item so duly read and entered into the record by the Chair of the Committee.” Any re-editing was overruled by presenter Nikolai Apostolov’s observation, “Unanimously I see approving looks – no.”
This is the “reality” that the current municipal councillor Mr Hristo Atanasov wants to clarify. And it is documented in the minutes of the meeting of the Municipal Council-Varna No. 15 of 20.02.2013, on pages 133 and 160. The preparation of a Master Plan for the appropriated property was charged as a duty of the Board of Directors of the “Markets” in item 4 of voted Resolution 869-13 (or in item 5 according to the promulgated resolution). This is evidenced by the publicly available records of the City Council-Varna: https://varnacouncil.bg/arhiv/arhiv-mandat-2011-2015/
It is admirable that on that black day for Varna – February 20, 2013 – the former municipal councilor “Hristo Atanasov” showed self-control, responsibility and foresight, because as a result of the recently enacted General Development Plan of the City of Varna (GDP-Varna) the site of the market “Chatalja” falls within the urban zone “C”, in which only covered markets are allowed. This is also documented in his proposal and in the decision of the Municipal Council – “covered market “Chatalja””.
As citizens, we should be glad that after 11 years of inaction, the municipal trading company ‘Markets’ is taking it upon itself to fulfil an obligation imposed on it by the Varna City Council. But instead of holding it accountable for this delay, through calls to clarify the “reality” and the “history of developments around the case over the years”, an obstruction is being made to sabotage: the implementation of the Varna Master Plan, the realisation of the Mayor’s programme, the implementation of existing Ordinances, compliance with constitutional requirements for a favourable environment.
In the name of whom?
The archives of the Municipal Council-Varna testify that the then municipal councilor “Hristo Atanasov” – a member of the PP “Ecoglasnost”, made his first statement and proposal precisely at the meeting of 20.02.2013, and in relation to the interests of citizens. This is the “reality”. And what is the “history of development”? The current municipal councillor Mr. Hristo Atanasov – a member of the party “Agricultural Union Alexander Stamboliyski”, is concerned first and foremost… the traders. It would be understandable if he defended the interests of the farmers, but apparently other priorities lay on his heart. And the citizens – it falls to them to live in the stagnant conditions of the past, despite the desire of the President of the Municipal Council of Varna “to bring this iconic place into modern times”.
