Residents were furious after the parish’s decision. “They sold us”

The case was publicized by “Gazeta Wyborcza”. It is a large plot of land in Poznańwhich a development company purchased from one of the parishes for PLN 400 millionas reported by “GW”. In an area that many people have become attached to, the company is planning build a housing estate with two thousand apartments – determined the daily’s editorial staff.

The location from which people will have to move out are former allotment gardens. They were built in this place in the 1930s – the parish created them to help unemployed people. They were supposed to grow vegetables and fruits there for themselves, a over time, they began to build gazebos there. These They were transformed into houses, which are now inhabited by about 700 people (some of them have become very attached to the place – they have known it for decades and do not want to leave it at all costs).

“GW” reports that the parish has recently taken steps to move residents out of the squatter settlement. The inhabitants then started to fight for their rights – they organized, among others: protests, they invited local politicians and bishops to talks. What’s more, they even had to send a letter to the Pope to defend them.

Residents are fighting in court for adverse possessioni.e. recognition by the justice system that they have had continuous possession of the thing – in this case, immovable property – for at least 20 years. Then, by operation of law, it is deemed to have been acquired by the persons concerned. They are very determined.

Residents announce: We will fight!

– This transaction is a shock for us. On January 30 (Friday), they sold us like a piece of meat, and four days earlier the parish priest celebrated mass for us. But we will continue to fight to stay here, emphasized one of the women. Another “GW” interlocutor noted that people now “fear that the methods the parish and curia may use to get rid of them will be even more brutal.”

In its text, the daily quoted the content of the curia’s statement, which stated that there is an “individual support program for people staying on plots without legal title”in which the land manager got involved and has been implementing it since 2023. “Several dozen families have already obtained rights to municipal premises” – we read. The church indicated that the program “will continue”.

The representative of the company that is the property manager informed that: those who qualified for the list of municipal apartments or signed an agreement with the manager can stay in the estate until they receive the keys to the premises. While the procedure is ongoing, the administrator is not to take any action against these people.

One of the residents on behalf of the others she noted that they did not want to move out of the estate – instead they want it to be revitalized (e.g. for EU funds). They could also agree to receive compensation – they want to choose their own new places to live.

The developer spoke up

And how? The developer commented on the whole matter?

“Due to the fact that third parties are staying on the property today, we will take steps to ensure that they can be transferred within the appropriate time horizon. These activities will be carried out taking into account the individual situation of each person and in the light of applicable law. In this respect we will continue cooperation with the current property manager, who knows the problems and legal situation of people staying in this area” – said the company’s representatives.