Artisan Center transforms into residential building, leaving craftsmen displaced in Tashkent

After the construction of a four-story artisan center in Tashkent's Uchtepa district began as per the Prime Minister's statement, it suddenly transformed into a multi-story residential building. The permit for this transformation was canceled by a statement from the city mayor, Shavkat Umrzakov. However, this statement was deemed invalid in court. If things continue this way, the artisans, who lost their workshops five years ago, will surely end up on the streets.

In December 2022, Kun.uz reported that a nine-story building was being constructed at the site where a four-story Artisan Center was supposed to be built in Uchtepa district, and the artisans were unhappy about it.

The artisans reached out to the editorial office again, indicating that the problem had not been resolved. Kun.uz visited the disputed area to study the situation and spoke with the artisans and representatives of the construction company.

Due to the construction of the Suzukota complex, the artisans’ workshops were demolished. As a result, a government meeting on May 26, 2019, decided to build an “Artisan Center” on a 2.7-hectare plot on Foziltepa Street in Uchtepa district, with the first floor of the building allocated as compensation for 52 artisans, providing a total area of 12,204 square meters.

The rooms allocated for the artisans were to be sold to cover construction costs, with an option to pay in installments over a year if necessary.

Subsequently, the "Turon Meros" LLC was established, and all the artisans were to be accommodated in the Artisan Center. The project design, sketches, and other documents were approved in 2020, and a positive conclusion was obtained from the Ministry of Construction.

On June 1, 2021, the mayor of Tashkent allocated a 1.5-hectare plot at 178 Foziltepa Street for the construction of the Artisan Center.

Although the documents indicated that a four-story building was to be constructed with all the necessary facilities for artisans, a nine-story residential building was being built at the site allocated for the Artisan Center.

It was revealed that initially, the management of "Turon Meros" LLC, formed by the artisans, was taken over by an investor, and the company’s original director and deputy were removed. The artisans stated that the investor had modified the project and cost estimates without consulting them.

According to a representative of the contractor, construction costs had risen. It was then decided, after consulting many artisans, to change the four-story building project to nine stories to reduce the cost per square meter for the artisans.

The sale of apartments in the new building had already started. The contractor representatives promised to allocate space for artisans on the first floor of the new building, offering it to them at 6.5 million UZS per square meter, which they claimed was the cost price. However, the artisans found this proposal unacceptable. They also pointed out that the work environment would be very noisy, making it unsuitable for residential living and potentially leading to conflicts between the artisans and the residents.

The artisans had contacted several government organizations regarding the issue. Consequently, the construction of the nine-story building was halted by the Uchtepa district administration.

It was found that "Turon Meros" LLC had begun construction and installation work without proper registration, resulting in administrative liability from the Regional Construction Inspection on October 28, 2022. A notice to stop construction work was issued on December 4, 2022, due to the lack of registration.

Subsequently, the investor applied to the Tashkent City Main Construction Department to change the project to a nine-story building, awaiting a positive conclusion from the Ministry of Construction. On May 27, 2023, a positive conclusion was granted to continue building multi-story residential buildings on the condition of maintaining the lower floors as an artisan center.

On March 1, 2024, a meeting of the Tashkent City Architectural and Urban Planning Council, chaired by Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umrzakov, was held. The Council's statement annulled the May 27, 2023, decision, instructing "Turon Meros" LLC to reconsider the project in consultation with the artisans and an appropriate design organization.

Following this, "Turon Meros" LLC filed a lawsuit, requesting the court to invalidate the statement signed by Shavkat Umrzakov.

On April 8, 2024, the Tashkent Interdistrict Administrative Court reviewed the case. The court ruled that the March 1, 2024, decision of the Tashkent City Architectural and Urban Planning Council chaired by Mayor Shavkat Umrzakov was invalid.

Currently, the construction and sale of the nine-story buildings continue.

#construction #legislation #craftsmanship