The protest, to take place at Kertész Street 23, aims to draw attention to the plight of historical buildings which are under threat of demolition in Erzsébetváros (District VII) and Terézváros (District VI), in the centre of Budapest.
Architect János Gerle, one of the many protesting the demolition of the buildings, notes that the State Audit Office has found in an investigation that the buyers of the buildings failed to follow the letter of the law. The office?s position has been supported by the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of the Public Prosecutor and other local authorities.
Members of the ÓVÁS! Society have asked the Office for the Protection of Cultural Heritage to list a building at Király Street 40 which was nearly demolished earlier this year, but saved because of protests. ÓVÁS! activist Péter Molnár said the office should be more resolute when it comes to acting to save such buildings.
Attila Győr, an art historian and head of department at the Office for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, said the authority lacks the power to declare buildings listed. However, memorial plaques will be placed on all listed buildings in the near future, he said.
