Sighisoara's Historic Centre set to undergo major urban regeneration

The centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

A project for the extensive modernization of the centre of Sighisoara under the title "Urban regeneration of the Historic Center of Sighisoara - UNESCO World Heritage" was submitted by local authorities in a bid to secure European funding.

Pedestrian area and green space for socializing and organizing outdoor events

The goals of the project are the rehabilitation and development of the "Sigma" area in order to transform it into a pedestrian zone and green space perfect for socializing and organizing outdoor events. Since 2017, The Sighisoara City Hall has been engaged in a process of transforming the “Sigma Square” since 2017 into a multifunctional market, attractive for locals and tourists.

Now, the next steps included in the project application for European funding are the rehabilitation and development of "Sigma Market" and the central area. The area could not be rehabilitated due to land ownership issues with only 25.1% of the land area being in the public domain of Sighisoara, another 61.8% was the private property of individuals or legal entities and 13.1% was the private domain of the Romanian state.

After regulating on the use of these lands and in order to arrange the new urban market, the City Hall will propose the transfer of these lands from the private domain of the state and from the private property of some individuals to the public domain of Sighișoara Municipality. The transfer will be done in accordance with all national laws and regulations. 

In the process of expropriation for reasons of public utility, necessary to achieve this objective of local interest, the provisions regarding the establishment of a fair compensation of landowners shall be complied with, explained the mayor, Ovidiu Mălăncrăvean. 

Image of the future view of the Historic Center by Sighisoara Municipality 

The project "Urban regeneration of the Historic Center of Sighisoara - UNESCO World Heritage" was submitted for the next financial year, in the context in which between July and August 2020, representatives of public administrations in the Center Region had the opportunity to submit to the Agency for Regional Development Center. They want to implement the investment project in the period between 2021-2027.