Paid Courts Instead of a Campus for Students: A Land Scandal Erupts in Odesa

In Odesa, the territory that was planned to be used for a sports and wellness base for students and city residents is being repurposed into paid sports courts and a parking lot.

What was supposed to happen according to the plan and what was built. According to the veterans’ community, the land-use history on Novoberegova Street 94 has a long history. As early as 2009, the decision of the Odesa City Council provided for the creation of a sports and wellness complex for students with free and open access for the community to the sports infrastructure and the sea. In 2020, the plot was leased out for recreational purposes. At the same time, the International Humanitarian University was exempted from paying land tax due to use of the land for educational purposes. Activists, however, claim that six paid courts and a commercial parking lot are currently located on municipal land. During a report at a session of the Odesa City Council, a serviceman stated that the actual use of the territory does not match the original plan. According to him, instead of an accessible sports and wellness base for students and townspeople, paid facilities have appeared here. He also raised questions about the exemption of the land user from paying land tax and claimed possible involvement of Serhiy Kivalov in the development of this project. Read also: Deputies want to demolish veterans’ garages to preserve trees on Teremky: what is known. Violations and risks for the slope. Separately, the veteran raised questions about the legality of construction works. He states that heavy equipment without license plates is operating on the site, and works are being carried out without the permits from the State Architectural and Construction Inspection (DABK) and without orders for earthworks and felling of trees, in his view. Separately, activists are concerned about the state of the engineering infrastructure. According to them, during site preparation part of the greenery was destroyed and the storm drainage system was dismantled. This could create additional risks to the stability of the slope. Meanwhile, in the veterans’ community, they call on supervisory and law enforcement bodies to conduct an inspection of the actions of certain officials of the Odesa City Council, in particular First Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Filatov, whom activists associate with issuing permits for the works. Veterans’ community demands In connection with this, representatives of the veterans’ community turned to local authorities with a set of demands. In particular, they call for checking the legality of the land use and works, obliging the developer to restore the drainage system and reclaim the green zone. In addition, activists demand considering the termination of the lease agreement if non-target use of the land is confirmed and holding the responsible officials accountable.

Earlier we wrote that the problematic ENSO investors are trying to defend their rights.