Protesters gathered outside the Sofia municipality building to oppose a proposed land swap involving municipal properties in Dragalevtsi and a private plot in Knyazevo that carries the popular Vitosha hiking trail known as the Sunlit Alley.
Disputed Municipal Land Swap Paused in Sofia
The municipal council meeting scheduled the vote on a proposal by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev to acquire a 1,089-square-meter parcel in Knyazevo. In exchange, the city would provide two municipal properties totaling 2,435 square meters in Dragalevtsi, where private buildings already stand.
Boyko Dimitrov, chair of the municipal council group representing We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, requested the postponement. Dimitrov stated that market evaluations for the properties were inaccurate and required new assessments.
Did You Know? The private parcel in Knyazevo that carries the Sunlit Alley was acquired by its owner in 2024, building permits for it were issued in 2023, and the property sits outside the official boundaries of Vitosha Nature Park according to municipal administration records.
Mayor defends land swap to protect public access
Mayor Vasil Terziev defended the transaction, asserting it serves as the sole viable option to prevent the Sunlit Alley from being built over and to protect public access to the mountain. Terziev noted that alternative measures such as nationalization are legally barred under the constitution.
According to municipal documents, market valuations conducted on October 26 valued the Knyazevo property at 622,607 euros, while the two municipal parcels in Dragalevtsi were assessed at 672,243 euros. The administration structured the latest proposal so the private owner would pay a difference of 180,000 euros to the municipality.
Expert Insight: Urban development projects on the edges of protected nature parks frequently expose structural friction between historical recreational paths and modern private property rights, forcing municipal authorities to weigh the cost of land acquisition against intense public scrutiny over density and zoning.
Arguments From Property Owners and Critics
Milen Hristov, the owner of the private plot in Knyazevo, released a statement defending the agreement as a way to resolve decades-old regulatory mismatches dating back to 1974 in Dragalevtsi. Hristov noted that under the transaction project he faces a higher financial contribution of 216,000 euros including value-added tax.
Critics, including the political party Save Sofia, warned that the municipality risks losing over one million euros in the deal. Protesters from both neighborhoods argued that the swap serves private interests and converts public green space into private residential building plots.
Councilor requests delay over property valuation errors
Why was the land swap vote delayed?
The report was postponed during committee discussions following a request from municipal councilor Boyko Dimitrov, who cited inaccurate market valuations for the properties involved in the transaction.
What is the area of the disputed Knyazevo terrain?
The private plot in Knyazevo covers 1,089 square meters and contains a portion of the historical hiking route known as the Sunlit Alley.
What financial conditions were attached to the proposed exchange?
Initial municipal calculations and project drafts required the private owner to pay a cash difference ranging between 180,000 and 216,000 euros to the Sofia municipality.
How should the city balance historical hiking trails with private property rights in suburban zoning zones?