They have one important goal: make it cool to be a Civic!
On Monday afternoon, the group for cívisházakért organized a movement under the title sixty-forty-two next to the apartment building at Hatvan utca 42, which served as the event’s namesake. We learned from the organizers that they did not come for the purpose of a demonstration, but wanted to organize a joint meeting in front of the building that preserves the values of Cívis, where, in addition to the introduction of the group formed barely two weeks ago, they explained the history of the house, and symbolically put up ribbons for the protection of the houses.
– The demolition work has been going on for years, people have expressed their displeasure on social media. That’s when he tells us that the conversation is too much about the For cívisházakert group. This is not an association, not a foundation, but an initiative made up of private individuals, civil engineer Beáta Szakács, one of the founders of the group, explained to Naplo. He said that as a structural engineer, he has some insight into which buildings can be saved.
– When we received the news that the apartment building was condemned for demolition on May 23, that was the point when we said: there is no point in demolishing more houses, since the small circuit has been completed. The remaining houses serve at most real estate investment purposes. What we are not against, however, we firmly stand for the preservation of the cityscape. then the appropriate architects would even build an apartment building by keeping the facade, after that we would keep it, he said.
He stressed that neither side is pursuing party politics. Their only goal is to protect the remaining cívis houses within the appropriate legal framework.
In the meantime, the municipality of Debrecen issued a statement on Sunday afternoon, in which the building in question was also mentioned. They wrote that although the property is not under local protection, Mayor László Papp told Cívis Ház Zrt. with the CEO so that no demolition work is carried out on the property. The municipality of Debrecen is simultaneously proposing the sale of the property burdened with a renovation obligation, in the framework of a public auction.
The aim of Debrecen, highlighted in the announcement, is to protect the built-in values that define the city’s history and identity, to preserve the city’s architectural heritage and image for future generations, and to shape it qualitatively with regard to the general architectural environment and culture, and the attitude-shaping elements of architectural culture.
It was predicted that the goal of the city leaders is that in the 2023 local government budget, the local government will create a renovation fund that can support the preservation and renovation of historic buildings and architectural values that must be protected.
Beáta Szakács said that the mayor’s decision was received positively. They feel that a “positive flow” has started in the cooperation, a kind of opening can also be felt from the side of the city management.
A civish vision of the future
– The cívis mentality is indeed there in people. This sense of identity is very strong, but perhaps its meaning has been lost in people’s minds. We want it to be cool to be a citizen and to be proud of it, said Beáta Szakács. We also learned that one of the medium-term goals is to have the cadastral map of the heart-shaped Debrecen printed on a T-shirt at its own expense. not only do they want to preserve the traditions for the locals, but they also start a flow of information towards tourists. Thus, in consultation with the residents, a QR code was placed on the houses, which, when read, would allow the history of the houses to be known more deeply.
– The condition of these houses often bleeds from several wounds. Our goal is to provide legal and architectural advice to those who live in them. For example, how to economically heat an apartment with a high ceiling, or to professionally reconstruct the facades. We also welcome the participation of legal professionals, as construction legislation changes on a daily basis. We are trying to build a community where, in cooperation with the decision-makers, we will find common solutions to protect the civic culture, as well as our ethnographic and architectural heritage, he added.