Sugar Refinery, Čukarica
To the north, across the Radnička, is the Sava river's Bay of Čukarica and Belgrade's popular recreational zone, Ada Ciganlija.
Based on the law, the international tendering for the sugar factory was announced and companies from Belgium, United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, Germany and even Japan applied.
The grant was given to the German consortium "Royal Serbian privileged sugar factory in Belgrade, Hacke, Goldschmidt and Weinschenk".
The consortium was formed by Alfred Hacke, an engineer from Magdeburg, Julius Goldschmidt, a banker and a consul from Lugshaven and Max Weinschenk, industrialist and the main shareholder of the large sugar refinery in Regensburg.
It was heavily damaged during the World War I and remained privately owned until 1918 when the Serbian Ministry of Justice began administering it.
Commercial and residential objects are not allowed by the city urban plan, so the possibilities for adaptation include cultural venues: museum, libraries, ateliers, theaters, etc.
[3] In 2017 city announced the bidding for an architectural competition concerning the wider Careva Ćuprija area (hippodrome, Sugar Refinery and the "Jugopetrol" complex), 55 hectares (140 acres) in total.
[8] In September 2017 the winning project was announced, a work of Marija Krsmanović Stringeta, Anđelka Badnjar and Milena Kordić.
From the complex, a new system of pathways will allow the entrance into the hippodrome from the side which is not accessible to the visitors today, while in front the buildings the square will be constructed.
[9] In October 2018 city officially announced its intention of purchasing the sugar refinery complex, thus becoming its legal proprietor.
[10] In February 2022 city declared the Old Refinery and surrounding 12 hectares (30 acres) a cultural center which can't be used for any other purposes.
[11] City managed to acquire the former "Jugopetrol" section, adjacent to the refinery complex, and part of the same project, through the exchange with the Naftna Industrija Srbije.
The city announced selling of this land in November 2021, where the potential buyer and future investor has no obligation to follow the already accepted project.
City also announced that construction of shopping molls, supermarkets, gas stations, wholesale markets, warehouses or commercial garages is forbidden.
Some of the existing structures, like the watch tower, a residential house, and chimney of the former heating plant, have to remain intact, or eventually to be renovated.
[17] When construction began in May 2020, it was announced that the project includes extended footbridge from factory directly to the Ada Ciganlija's main entrance.
[20] The construction works were effectively completed in May 2021, but the footbridge remained closed, and the opening was moved to March 2022,[21] but then prolonged to August 2022.
