A controversial developer from Lviv intends to create a memorial space on the site where they promised to build an IT park.

The controversially well-known Lviv developer Volodymyr Zhenchak has presented a project for creating a memorial space for fallen heroes on Chmola Street without approvals from the city council, where he previously planned to build an IT park. Meanwhile, the city council is developing a concept for a Memorial Park on a plot near the Lviv Theological Seminary, which Volodymyr Zhenchak has long sought to develop for residential purposes. The city learned about the developer's private initiative from media reports, as well as the fact that the creation of the new memorial space involves construction work within Striy Park.

Instead of the widely announced IT park – a private memorial complex

This concerns a vast area of about 10 hectares near the tax office, bounded by Chmola, Kozelnytska, and Luhanska streets, which has long been neglected. A few years ago, the companies "Agrokultura Zakhid" and "Developland Group," owned by Volodymyr Zhenchak, purchased the property on this site – former greenhouses used for growing flowers – and announced the construction of a large-scale IT park. Leading global companies were set to be the investors, and a loan for construction was approved by a Polish bank. The first phase of the IT park was supposed to open in the second half of 2023.

In 2018, a capsule for the construction was ceremoniously laid on this territory; however, since then, no construction work on the site has commenced. In 2024, the prosecutor's office returned one of the plots allocated for this construction to municipal ownership. After that, the topic of the IT park on Chmola Street completely stalled.

The area on Chmola Street is not the only project of Volodymyr Zhenchak. The company "Agrokultura Zakhid" has been trying for years to build a multi-story building on municipal land near the theological seminary on Khutorivka. However, due to resistance from residents and city authorities, the company has repeatedly failed to bring the issue of land allocation for this construction to the Lviv City Council session.

In contrast, upon the initiative of the NGO "Families of Fallen Heroes of Lviv Region," city council members supported the proposal to establish a Memorial Park on the disputed plot. On November 19, a working group at the city council presented the first developments of the park concept.

In particular, this territory is proposed to be connected with bike-pedestrian links to the John Paul II Park and Striy Park, integrating it into the "Green Line" project, which was developed and approved even before the full-scale invasion. For further development of the concept for this area, the city plans to involve the Lviv Theological Seminary and the Ukrainian Catholic University, which are located nearby.

On Wednesday, November 20, Volodymyr Zhenchak organized a presentation of the National Space for Honoring Fallen Heroes at the "Warrior's House." This event was not announced, so only those who learned about it accidentally or from the organizers could attend. However, the next day, November 21, the company's press service sent a post-release to Lviv media, stating that the presented project includes the arrangement of an alley that will stretch from Chmola Street through the territory of the UCU to Striy Park.

"The space will feature a long walking alley connecting the Memorial Park on Chmola Street with Striy Park through the territory of the UCU. The alley will lead to an amphitheater in Striy Park. The walking alley will be equipped at the expense of the society that will contribute to the financial support of the project", the published material on the " Fourth Studio " website states.

ZAXID.NET received video recordings from the presentation, in which Volodymyr Zhenchak promises to finance the arrangement of this space. At the same time, he actively criticizes the city’s project, claiming that the city lacks funds and that the allocated plot on Khutorivka is too small and insufficient for planting trees for the park. In contrast, according to his development project for this plot, 30% of the entire area would supposedly be occupied by a park zone with a lake.

Regarding the IT park on Chmola Street, the developer noted that the pandemic and war prevented him from realizing this project, although he does not completely abandon it. He asserts that the space for honoring heroes will "encroach on the territory of the IT park".

Present at the presentation, deputy from "Varta" Yuriy Martyniuk, who heads the Association of Western Ukrainian Developers, and deputy from VO "Svoboda" Adrian Hutnyk supported the dubious project. Yuriy Martyniuk noted that during the war, the city lacks funds for implementing infrastructure projects and added that entrepreneurs who want to do this at their own expense need support. However, he pointed out that the project requires broader public discussion.

"It's sad that the 'Warrior's House' is being used to legitimize business interests"

The city council informed ZAXID.NET that they were unaware of Volodymyr Zhenchak's initiative.

"However, we are well aware of the arbitrary and cynical attempts to develop 3 hectares of land that are being illegally attempted to be alienated from the city. If it is about a space that will remind us of our Heroes – we would definitely know about it, as we are in contact with the families of the fallen. I learned about Mr. Zhenchak's initiatives from the media today. It's sad that the 'Warrior's House' – an institution with such a good reputation – is being used to legitimize business interests," said Yevhen Boyko, executive committee manager, to ZAXID.NET.

Recall that several years ago, a scandal arose around the plot on Khutorivka Street, 51. The Lviv City Council discovered that the company "Agrokultura Zakhid" had begun illegal construction work on this plot and claimed the seizure of almost one hectare of municipal land. At that time, the city’s State Architectural and Building Inspectorate halted this work.

Both the residents of the building and the Lviv Theological Seminary oppose new construction on this plot, fearing it will impact their homes. After publications in the media, the unofficial owner of the company, Volodymyr Zhenchak, filed a lawsuit for the protection of honor, dignity, and business reputation against local resident Halyna Semihorodska, who publicly opposed his development. This case is currently being considered by the Sykhiv District Court.

After the city council supported the residents and the appeal of the NGO "Families of Fallen Heroes of Lviv Region," Yevhen Boyko and the deputy mayor for urban planning, Lyubomyr Zubach, reported pressure and threats. However, they did not specify who exactly the threats came from or their nature.

The official owner of the company "Agrokultura Zakhid" is indicated as Lviv resident Olha Mandziuk, and the director is Oksana Zvanych, who is also the accountant for "Gallery-Center" of Iryna and Volodymyr Zhenchak. Volodymyr Zhenchak is known as the vice-chairman of the supervisory board of PJSC "Multi Veste Ukraine 3" (this company owns the Forum Lviv shopping mall).