Residents outraged. Historic houses demolished, although renovation was announced
A local scandal in the Dojlidy housing estate in Białystok. The wooden workers’ houses, which were built at the end of the 19th century, were demolished. The case became interested in the Ministry of Culture, the prosecutor’s office and the provincial conservator of monuments.
Until recently, two characteristic, historic buildings could be seen in the largest housing estate in Białystok. They belonged to the city. There was once a palace and factory complex of the Hasbach family here (Ewald Hasbach was the owner of a weaving mill, which was later transformed into a plywood factory) – in the 19th century, eight houses for workers were built on its premises.
However, they are no longer there – only the foundations remain – informs Polskie Radio Białystok.
Podlasie. It was supposed to be renovated, but the monuments were demolished. The city of Białystok assures that the houses will be restored
The local radio station, as well as the national one – RMF FM – decided to describe the case. When the information began to circulate on the Internet, the Ministry of Culture, the prosecutor’s office and the Podlasie Provincial Conservator of Monuments took notice of the “renovation” (although the municipal conservator was directly involved in the case, he was subordinated to the regional department). Institutions are considering whether monuments have been destroyed, which is a crime under the law.
PRB has reached out to the conservation officer for comment. The office informed that the documents announced renovation, not demolition of the houses.
How did the city react to the matter? In an interview with PRB and RMF FM, city representatives indicate that the demolition was necessary and point to the poor technical condition of the buildings entered in the register of monuments. They are to be recreated – when they are re-erected, the construction team will use original materials from the demolition.
Investigation and inspection ongoing
President Tadeusz Truskolaski also spoke on the matter. He does not intend to make any decisions regarding people employed in the office, responsible for the entire project, until he receives an opinion from the prosecutor’s office (the investigation is ongoing) and the conservation services (the inspection has not been completed yet).
