Residents near 'Emin Duraku' school write to parliamentary candidates: Come to our protest against the 16-story tower

Residents of three buildings in the square near the "Emin Duraku" school in Tirana have written a letter to candidates for deputies of the Albanian Parliament to join their protest on April 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM, against the government's construction permit for a 16-story tower, just a few meters away from the apartments and school premises.

According to residents, the construction permit was granted in violation of every safety standard and urban logic, just five meters away from the buildings and adjacent to the schoolyard, and from the classrooms where our children learn.

Public Letter from Residents:

Addressed to all candidates for deputies of the city of Tirana

Tirana, April 22, 2025

Dear candidates for deputies of the Parliament of Albania,

We, the residents of the three buildings surrounding the 9-year "Emin Duraku" school, as well as the parents of hundreds of students and the teaching staff of this school, address you with this open call to confront together an urban crime that is taking shape in the heart of the capital: the construction of a 16-story tower with four floors of underground parking, between our apartments and in the immediate vicinity of the Emin Duraku school.

 What's going on?

The construction permit was granted in violation of every safety standard and urban logic, just five meters away from the buildings and adjacent to the schoolyard, and from the classrooms where our children learn.

The works began on March 29, 2025, despite continuous protests from residents and parents of students.

Behind the project lie clientelistic, nepotistic and political connections, extensively documented in the materials we will make available to you.

 What is at stake?

The lives and safety of residents, students, and teachers, due to deep excavations in a limited area.

Structural integrity of existing buildings and the school building.

The right of citizens to a safe environment, transparency and fair urban development.

 Our public call:

We invite you on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM, in the square between three buildings near the "Emin Duraku" school:

To hear the voices of residents, parents, and teachers who are directly affected.

To take a closer look at the construction site - an urban crime with consequences for our lives and safety.

To publicly express your position on:

The immediate suspension of works until the matter is assessed by the civil court and the SPAK court;

Cancellation of the construction permit granted outside any urban planning norms and European standards against the public interest, favoring the interests of two or three individuals.

Revocation or revision of the legal framework that allows arbitrary decisions of the KKT to the detriment of the public interest;

Returning the land to public use (green space / community garden).

To sign a moral and political commitment to protect security, law, and the public interest over narrow clientelist and corrupt interests.

Dear candidates for deputies

This building permit was granted in May of last year to a , a construction company that was founded in 2023 and has a capital of only 1000 euros. The construction firm waited a year, so that the new Emin Duraku school could be inaugurated and construction could begin as soon as the electoral campaign began, where the attention of authorities and institutions is scarce.

This building permit was granted in 2024. Although a final court decision in 1999 rejected the construction of a four-story building. And now, twenty-five years later, a building permit for 16 floors is being granted, although none of the conditions for which the four-story permit was granted in 1999 have changed.

We are determined to take this to court and are currently preparing a lawsuit to sue every institution and official, as well as every representative of the construction company that has broken the law and regulations.

For three days now, the construction company has cut off the water supply and destroyed the sewage system, while the state police do not respond to residents' calls while continuing the works until midnight.

Dear candidates for deputies,

The case of this urban crime in the heart of Tirana is a good opportunity for all of you to come together, even just once, and support the public interest.

We are waiting for you on April 24th at 5:00 PM, you candidates for deputies, as well as representatives of all media and human rights organizations.

With respect

Residents of the three buildings and parents of students of the 'Emin Duraku' school