The conflict between the residents of Durrës Castle and state institutions over the "TID Durrës" project entered a new judicial phase on Tuesday.
Fourteen families filed the first class action lawsuit against expropriations, development permits, and the way the project was designed and is being implemented.
In one press release, they considered the process "illegal, without public consultation and with serious consequences for property rights."
Architect Entela Spahivogli requested the suspension of the government's decision related to the expropriation of apartments, based on the investigation being conducted against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK).
She emphasized that the VKM in question bears Balluk's signature and that suspending this act until the legal review by the court can avoid any unpredictable consequences on citizens' properties.
In the first phase of the project, 74 families are affected, while over 100 others are at risk of being affected in the future.
“TID Durrës” is part of the 2021-2028 plan presented during the post-earthquake reconstruction period. It was developed in collaboration between the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), the Ministry of Culture, and the Municipality of Durrës.
Although the project has been presented as an intervention for cultural and urban revitalization, the expropriation process has dragged on, while residents say that crucial documents were submitted late and without clarification.
In the preparatory session on December 2, at the Tirana Administrative Court, the residents presented four main requests:
- Suspension of Council of Ministers Decision No. 477, dated 31.07.2025, approving expropriations.
- Suspension of Decision No. 07, dated 02.04.2024 of the KKTU, granting the development permit for the TID project.
- Taking the measure of securing evidence, for an independent engineering, architectural and archaeological expertise.
- Obligation of public institutions to submit to the court all administrative acts, minutes, technical files and "facility passports".
Residents say the development permit was granted without public consultation and in violation of procedural obligations.
They request that the court review its legality and, in parallel, request verification of the real condition of the buildings, the reasons for their demolition, the constructive values, and the project's compatibility with the public interest.
According to them, a number of legal violations have been committed in this matter, including:
- Law on Expropriations (8561/1999)
- DCM No. 169/2020 on public consultation on cultural assets
- Law 107/2014 on territorial planning
- Territorial Planning Regulation (VKM 686/2017)
- Law 10440/2011 on Environmental Impact Assessment
- VKM 247/2014 on public information and involvement
According to residents, none of these legal obligations have been respected.
They point out that the expropriation process was carried out with valuations based on the 2000 and 2015 VKMs, which do not correspond to market prices in the historic area of the Castle. This has significantly reduced the proposed compensation.
In previous reports, Citizens.al has brought the cases of several residents whose homes were valued by public authorities at 60-100 thousand euros, while private property appraisers estimated their market value to be at least twice as high.
This approach, combined with the lack of consultation, gives the project the character of a closed process, built to justify decisions made earlier.
In a comment to Citizens.al, AADF explained that its contribution to the project "represents a donation to the city and the local community", as part of the commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
“AADF has no role or responsibility in relation to expropriation procedures, determination of compensation value for properties, or any other process related to the issue of properties in the project area” she emphasized in a previous response to Citizens.al.
But residents emphasize that they are not against development, but against "demolitions with decisions made without transparency" which violate constitutional property rights.
The "TID Durrës" case is expected to become an important precedent for how communities within historic areas are treated, especially when projects are implemented without transparent processes and with contested acts.
Read also:
- Durrës residents oppose expropriations for the TID project
- TID Durrës project, residents protest in front of the AADF offices
- Durrës, 32 families in former beach cabins risk being left homeless
He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
