A development of 140 houses plus sports and cultural facilities is being built in the Záhorská Bystrica district of Bratislava, Národná Obroda reported. Of the 1 billion Sk ($333 million) planned investment, 250 million Sk has already been invested by a firm called HREC. Construction on the first 21 homes has already begun and should be completed within three years.
Another huge loan to Košice
For the second time in two years, the city of Košice has received a big loan from a major Slovak firm to help beautify the city and upgrade its infrastructure, according to the weekly Trend. Všeobecná Úverová Banka (VÚB) announced in late June that it was providing Slovakia's second-largest city with an eight-year loan worth 250 million Sk with an 11 percent interest rate. The city plans to use the finances to reconstruct St. Elizabeth's Cathedral in the main square, complete apartment construction, and improve public transportation. Last year, the city received a 126 million Sk loan from VSŽ, the local steel giant which will cooperate with the city in constructing sports facilities, supermarkets, and apartments.
Construction up, wages up more
While construction output was up slightly during the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year, wages in the industry rose significantly, Národná Obroda reported. Construction output in April amounted to 4.3 billion Sk, up 6.1 percent from April 1995. For the same month, average monthly wages stood at 8,000 Sk, a 17.2 percent increase over April last year.
Bratislava to host two-week architectural event
ArchFest '96, a two-week series of workshops, seminars, and installations on architecture, will be held from July 25 to August 6 at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VŠVU) and at Gallery Médium on Bratislava's Hviezdoslavovo nám. The general public is invited to attend lectures given by American and Slovak architects, philosophers, architecture theoreticians, and art historians. Further information can be gained from the Academy by calling (42-7) 533-5743 or 366-003.
Author: Compiled By Rick Zedník
