BANJALUKA AIMS TO ACQUIRE FORMER TOBACCO FACTORY COMPLEX

The City of Banjaluka has expressed a strong intention to purchase the complex of the former Tobacco Factory, which is listed by the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, announced Mayor Draško Stanivuković.

“Our plan is to purchase, renovate, and adapt the existing buildings so that they can serve as venues for cultural and social events – including a city museum, music center, and conference and congress halls,” Stanivuković stated via social media.

He emphasized that the area would be transformed into a new public gathering space with pedestrian zones, a central square, and facilities capable of hosting various events and festivals.

“This initiative will prevent the demolition of this protected site and stop its conversion into residential buildings. We will firmly oppose any attempt to change the regulatory plan or remove the site’s protected status,” the mayor said.

Stanivuković underlined that this is a unique opportunity for Banjaluka to preserve one of its important historical landmarks and transform it into the new cultural heart of the city.