Tbilisi Mayor: Excavation pit collapse on Marijani Street occurred at site for Center Point victims; victims themselves chose contractor

“The collapse of an excavation pit wall at a residential construction site on Marijani Street has sparked considerable speculation. This is a construction site dedicated to families defrauded by the notorious developer Center Point. Thousands of families have spent years waiting to receive their homes,” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze clarified during a municipal government meeting.

According to the Mayor, the company currently executing the project was selected specifically by the affected residents themselves.

“Thousands of families were left ruined by that construction company. Tbilisi City Hall was under no obligation to step in and help these families, let alone the owners of that company. It was out of our own goodwill that we chose to support thousands of devastated households.

Furthermore, not a single construction company that took on these works was brought in by City Hall or the municipality. We gave the victims the freedom to decide for themselves which company they would bring onto each specific site. The previous building on this lot was demolished, and the resulting excavation pit is where the subsequent construction is to take place.

The contractor in question is Next Door. They operate across two locations: this one on Marijani Street, and another in Vashlijvari. The building permit for Marijani Street was issued in 2024, but given that we explicitly required the installation of a piled foundation, we requested that they submit amendments to the permit,” Kaladze stated.

The Mayor further announced that the Municipal Inspection responded immediately to the incident, and the site will be fined 30,000 GEL for safety violations.

“Construction works will be suspended, and the company has been ordered to carry out urgent reinforcement works. Crucially, following an assessment by the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau after the pit wall collapsed, residents of the neighbouring apartment block are not in any danger.

We have also heard speculations claiming that the company is being restricted from selling apartments. Yes, they are indeed restricted from doing so; sales will only be permitted on a mutually agreed basis to protect the public and ensure citizens are not defrauded once again,” Kaladze added.