27 September 2024
Tyrševa 15, Maribor
On Friday, 27 September 2024, the final conference of the project “EPEKA – Housing Cooperative for All”, organized by the EPEKA Association, social enterprise, took place successfully in Maribor with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sport. The event, which attracted interested participants, was held on Tyrševa Street, where Slovenia’s first housing cooperative is set to be established in the future. The goal of the project is to create a housing cooperative that, through new forms of living and collaboration, aims to address the housing challenges in Maribor.
At the conference, attendees received detailed information about the project’s progress, efforts to overcome bureaucratic obstacles, and specific plans for transforming the building on Tyrševa Street into a modern housing cooperative. Štefan Simončič, President of the EPEKA Association, addressed the gathered audience, highlighting the importance of this pioneering project for the local community. Jernej Štromajer, a representative of the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sport, emphasized the government’s support for the development of alternative forms of living, while architect Urban Žunko presented architectural plans for the transformation of the building and provided details on the project’s progress.
During the event, participants learned that the cooperative will comprise 16 apartments of various sizes – from two-bedroom to four-bedroom units. In addition, they were informed about the project’s financial structure and the benefits that cooperative living offers. The housing cooperative will provide numerous premium services and promote solidarity among the members, who will work together to create a more connected and cooperative community.
In addition to presenting concrete plans, the importance of collaborating with the local environment was emphasized. The housing cooperative will not only benefit its residents but will also contribute to the broader community through socially responsible practices. The event organizers expressed a clear intention to involve other stakeholders and expand the concept of cooperativism as a solution to housing issues in Slovenia.
The final conference provided rich content and laid the foundation for the optimistic development of the first housing cooperative in Maribor, which, upon project completion, is expected to become a model of good practice in both Slovenia and beyond.
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