The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €60 million loan agreement with ArtN Sp. z o.o., a subsidiary of Capital Park S.A., for a flagship project to revitalise the former Norblin factory site in central Warsaw. This is the first EIB transaction in Poland with a real estate investor under a project financing scheme.
The project consists of the redevelopment of a brownfield site and its full reintegration in the city’s life. Heritage buildings of the former Norblin silver-plated metals factory will be renovated to accommodate a food and retail market hall, a cinema and a cultural museum for Warsaw, while new multifunctional office space will be created in areas without heritage elements. The site will be connected to the neighbouring part of town thanks to a pedestrian area, modern parking spaces for bicycles and proximity to public transport services.
“We are pleased to contribute to this project, which is an example of how a city can develop by revitalising old, underdeveloped spaces without eating into new ones,” said Vice-President Vazil Hudák, responsible for EIB operations in Poland. “With over 70 percent of Europeans living in urban areas, making good use of public space is essential as it helps turning cities into attractive and ecological places to live in.” Hudák added: “This project is also very much in line with the Urban Agenda approved at EU level in May 2016 through the Pact of Amsterdam. A pact which calls on different players to work together to stimulate growth, livability and innovation, and tackle social challenges in Europe’s cities.”
“The support received for this project from an important institution like the European Investment Bank is a sign of confidence in our group,” said Marcin Juszczyk, Member of the Management Board and CFO/CIO of Capital Park. “We have been present on the Stock Exchange for five years and have invested in numerous projects mainly related to the commercial real estate sector. This project, which is about the revitalization of the former Norblin factory, has some distinctive features among other investments taking place in Warsaw, as it brings new life and gives a new profile to this unique part of the town, which is an important element for us. Thanks to the EIB suport, the financing scheme of the project will be significantly improved. We are confifdent that we can establish through this project a fruitful cooperation with the EIB and we hope that we can work with the EIB on future projects too.”
The redevelopment of brownfield sites is particularly important in Poland and in all Central and Eastern European countries, where the transition towards a market economy and the subsequent massive de-industrialisation resulted in the creation of brownfields of all types (post-industrial, post-agricultural, post-military etc.). The need to considerably reduce land consumption is also increasingly recognised at both national and EU levels and is reflected in the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, which aims to end “net land take” by 2050.
