Borough denies congregation premises

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Tallinn Center borough government has decided to revoke the results of a rental competition from last December that saw premises on Narva rd. rented to the Estonian Islamic Community.

The congregation, as the only bidder, was given the premises opposite Tallinn University at 38 Narva mnt. with a total area of 131.4 square meters for the price of €198.41 a month. The bidding started at €171 a month. The bidder wanted use of the premises for cultural, educational, scientific, and charity-related non-profit activity.

The bid met all conditions, and a committee declared the Estonian Islamic Community the winner. The premises at 38 Narva mnt. were transferred to the congregation based on an instrument of delivery and receipt on December 26, 2016.

Borough elder at the time Alar Nääme approved the results of the tender and signed an order for the lease on January 2 this year. A corresponding notice was published on the city's website two days later.

The Center borough government was contacted soon after by the Tallinn City Property Department that had found the borough government had erred against the procedure of administration of city property and grant of use of city assets. The department concluded that the starting price of the tender, as well as prices offered during, fall below market value and make it impossible for the lessor to perform its duties.

New borough elder Taavi Pukk decided to abrogate the results of the competition. „Having assessed the described circumstances in interaction, the owner of the property finds that grant of use of business premises is insensible, and that it is in the interests of the city to expropriate all premises at 38 Narva mnt.,“ he told the congregation.

„Based on the city property department's claim that the Center borough government has violated the procedure of granting use of city property in the course of the tender and subsequent operations, the borough government has decided to abrogate the results of the competition and the borough elder's order that could serve as basis for a potential contract, as well as not to enter into a contract,“ Pukk added.

The elder communicated to the community the borough government's apologies and promised to compensate the congregation for invoiced expenses.