Located on the main artery of Gdansk, the historic building of the former horse-drawn streetcar depot in Oliva has been deteriorating for years, but a chance has arisen to rebuild it. At the same time, the discussion about the limits of interference with the historic building has heated up anew. The question is no longer whether to save the depot, but how to do it. Some see the investment as a condition for saving the monument, while others see it as a threat to its authenticity.
After the years of splendor of the horse-drawn streetcar dep ot built in Oliva in 1873, no trace remains. On the plot of land at the intersection of Grunwaldzka Avenue and Pomorska Street, adjacent to the Mill Pond, the ruins of the former facility have been haunting for years.
The complex was erected to serve Gdansk's first horse-drawn streetcar line, connecting Targ Sienny in the city center with the then suburban Oliwa. In subsequent years, the buildings changed their functions: for a while, the depot housed a soap factory, a prison, apartments for ZKM employees and communal housing. Later, the facility had no luck with investors: despite many announcements of renovations and promises to develop the area, subsequent plans presented stalled. The monument was deteriorating, and more than once fires broke out on its grounds. A decade ago, the building was bought by the Gdansk-based developer Doraco, but discussions about the future of the site continue to this day.
The site of the former streetcar depot in Oliva
photo: Ewa Karendys
Apartments and services in the historic depot in Oliva
Back in 2023, the City proceeded to draft a new local plan for the depot site. The current document was passed in 2011, the provisions allow for the construction of a hotel or a collective residence facility. This is set to change: residential and commercial development will be allowed. The bone of contention, however, is the new volume and height of the facility. The draft plan prepared by the city's planners assumes that the monument can be extended by two stories, and a 28-meter-high dominant is also planned. In recent weeks, Doraco has presented its latest development concept based on the draft provisions of the plan. From the investor's perspective, it is a compromise.
Park next to the depot according to Doraco's concept
mat. Doraco
Doraco stresses that the project "assumes the revitalization of the area of the former streetcar depot in Oliva, preserving its historic character."
Compared to the initial assumptions, the project has been significantly modified (reduced) - both the dominant building and the remaining buildings have been lowered. The changes result from an analysis of the urban context and dialogue with the project's surroundings including city councilors and the Gdansk Development Bureau
-convinces the developer, who wants to realize a mixed function in the former depot: housing and services. It also promises a space open to all, including a public square.
Doraco on the site of the former depot in Oliva plans a residential and service function
mat. Doraco
Between revitalization and annihilation of a monument
However, this does not end the disputes over the future of the site, the discussions concern interference with the monument. Among those raising objections is the district council.
The new visualizations have not been presented to the district council , says Tomasz Strug, chairman of the Oliva district board, in an interview with A&B . - On the other hand, referring to the draft local plan, we do not agree with increasing the volume of existing buildings. In the justification for the depot's entry in the register of monuments, it was emphasized that the unified body of the building is preserved - and this is something that should be protected. Interference with the shape of the buildings, will annihilate the monument.
District councilors point out that the Pomeranian Regional Monument Conservator has twice - in April and June 2025 - refused to agree with the draft local plan. In turn, he did not submit his position to the latest version of it in time, which formally means no objections. District councilors disagree with such a decision, which is why the district's board of directors has sent a request to the General Conservator of Monuments to supervise the actions of the Pomeranian Regional Conservator of Monuments.
The developer's latest concept
mat. Doraco
For us, the good of the monument means finding an appropriate function for it, realized with respect for its values - the authenticity of its form, dimensions, material, thanks to which we consider the former horse streetcar depot a testimony of a bygone era worth preserving for future generations.
-we read in the letter.
surveys of residents' opinions
Meanwhile, the developer claims that most residents of Oliva support the project. Such conclusions are to be drawn from a survey the company commissioned from the PBS Research Agency.
We deliberately did not disclose at the stage of implementation on whose behalf the survey was conducted - we wanted the results to be fully impartial and unencumbered by any expectations. The results speak for themselves: the new project has met with a very favorable opinion of the residents of Oliwa - 74 percent positively evaluate our project
-reports Doraco.
According to the company, the survey showed that residents of the Oliva neighborhood are clearly impatient with the area's long-standing state of neglect. 91 percent of respondents believe that renovation work should be undertaken as soon as possible.
It's difficult to comment on the developer's survey: we don't know the methodology of this research, and we don't know if the questions didn't suggest answers. Apparently, the developer is looking for arguments to beat the district council's arguments
- Tomasz Strugadds.
So the data does not close the discussion, and the future of the site will be decided by city councilors when the draft plan comes to a vote at a city council session.
Ruins of the former depot in Oliva
photo: Ewa Karendys
