Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said the company developing the construction site on Marijani Street N4 was fined GEL 30,000 after a slope collapsed at the site following heavy rainfall on July 6.
Speaking at a Tbilisi government meeting, Kaladze said the construction process would be suspended and the company would be required to carry out strengthening works due to safety violations. The site is currently being developed by ‘Next Door’.
“This was a ‘Center Point’ construction project that affected families have been waiting for for years. Thousands of families were left without housing due to this company. It was the goodwill of Tbilisi City Hall, despite having no obligation to do so, to take steps to help these families,” Kaladze said.
He noted that the municipality did not select the companies involved in completing unfinished ‘Center Point’ projects. Instead, affected families were given the opportunity to choose which companies would continue construction.
The Marijani Street N4 project, where the previous structure was demolished, was presented to the municipality following a request from affected residents, Kaladze said.
The mayor added that the company has two sites where it is responsible for providing housing to families affected by ‘Center Point’ — one on Marijani Street, where 433 families are waiting for apartments, and another in Vashlijvari, where 114 families are expected to receive housing.
The construction permit for the Marijani Street project was issued in 2024 but later required amendments because the municipality needed to arrange a concrete foundation, Kaladze said. He added that an old, non-functioning collector runs through the area.
The Tbilisi Municipal Inspection responded to the slope collapse and suspended construction due to safety violations. The company will be required to carry out reinforcement works based on an approved project confirming the safety of nearby properties.
A conclusion from the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau found that residents of nearby buildings are not in danger, the mayor said.
Addressing reports that the company has been restricted from selling the properties, Kaladze said the decision was made to protect affected families from possible further losses.
“‘Next Door’ must first fulfill its obligations to you, and only afterwards will it be allowed to sell the constructed properties,” Kaladze said.
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Footage shows slope collapse at Marijani Street construction site
