Kyiv City Council has refused to vote for the cancellation of a land plot transfer at 4 Kontraktova Square in Podilsky district in Kyiv to PJSC Ukrrestavratsiya for the reconstruction of the building of Hostynny Dvir.

As a correspondent of Interfax-Ukraine reported, a total of 25 councilors supported the cancellation of the decision to transfer the land plot, with 61 votes required for approval.

Head of BYT-Batkivschyna faction Tetiana Melikhova was an author of the bill. Only deputies from the opposition factions supported the bill.

Melikhova has already introduced two similar bills, but Kyiv council failed to support either of them.

As reported, on September 20, 2012, Kyiv City Council leased a 1.02-hectare land plot to Ukrrestavratsiya, a design and restoration company, for five years to restore Hostynny Dvir and turn it into an office center with a parking lot for guests.

The pecuniary valuation of the land plot was UAH 81.2 million. The rent rate is set at UAH 9.5 million per year.

According to Kyiv City State Administration, on October 30, 2012, the main department on cultural heritage protection of Kyiv City State Administration sent to the Culture Ministry accounting records to resolve the issue of the inclusion of the complex of buildings located on Kontraktova Square in the state register as an urban development monument of local significance. Hostynny Dvir was included in this complex. Under an order of December 21, 2012, the Culture Ministry recognized the Kontraktova Square complex to be a monument and put it on the state register. Hostynny Dvir also acquired the legal status of an urban development monument.

A fire that broke out in the attic of the building of Hostynny Dvir in the early hours of February 9 covered an area of 200 square meters and damaged the structural elements of the roof.

Activists from some public organizations have protested against the redevelopment of Hostynny Dvir.