Fig. 5
Distribution of number
approved zoning plans/year
in the 2008-2013 decay. The
downward trend is clearly
visible and is due to a synergic
effect between the impact of
the economic crisis and the new
constrains in the submitting-
approval process. (Stan)Third Decay: 2008–2014. The effortThe year of crisis 2008, felt first in the real estate sector: the international
financial blockade was matched by new measures of credits limiting imposed
by the National Bank of Romania. Thus, many developers have stopped
projects hoping for a return of land values, and, after a time, some began to cut
down the profit margins, in order to be able to sell. The effect chain affected
the real estate agencies, producers and distributors of building materials,
the furniture manufacturers and interior designers, but also the electrical
and electronics, and last, but not least, the architects and planners from the
private sector,^17 “The general image is that of a system characterized by an
overwhelming amount of contradictory planning strategies and instruments,
which are the effects of several reform periods, and the persistence of
exemption-driven planning practices in favor of private developers and
lobbies of interests”.^18
For the development of the Capital, the crisis period has meant a new
management team of the municipality with Sorin Oprescu as the new mayor.
Several large-scale urban projects (some disputed) appeared as a part of his
agenda, aiming to improve the city traffic, to de-congest some districts around
Angelica Stan