Osiedle Maltańskie bez tajemnic. Konflikt, który podzielił Poznań

The article, compiled by journalist Stanisław Mazurczak for Radio Meteor, examines the long‑standing dispute over the Osiedle Maltańskie neighbourhood in Poznań, Poland. Radio Meteor, a regional broadcaster, provides in‑depth reporting on social issues, and Mazurczak’s piece draws on official documents, interviews with residents, church officials, municipal representatives and legal experts.

Osiedle Maltańskie originated in the 19th century on land owned by the Knights of St John, later transferred to the Archdiocese of Poznań after the order’s suppression. From 1883 the parish of St John Jerozolimski administered the plots, initially as garden allotments and later as informal housing. By the 1930s the area saw the construction of single‑family homes; after World War II it was managed by the “Wolność” workers’ garden association. The neighbourhood was officially recognised as an auxiliary unit in 1994 and incorporated into the larger Warsaw‑Pomet‑Maltańskie zone in 2010.

In January 2026 the entire 12.2 hectares of the estate were sold to JHM Development for 421.18 million złoty (approximately £81 million). The transaction, confirmed by the Archdiocese, was presented as a means to fund church projects, including renovations at Adam Mickiewicz University’s Faculty of Theology, expansion of Caritas, and support for senior‑care facilities.

Residents have lived on land leased from the church for decades, paying nominal fees (about 50 zł per month) and, in many cases, investing in improvements and paying property taxes. Under Polish law, acquisition of ownership through adverse possession (zasiedzenie) requires 20 years in good faith or 30 years in bad faith. Legal experts cited in the article note that many occupants act in good faith, believing they have a right to remain, while the church maintains that all occupants are leaseholders.

Official records from the municipal office list 637 people registered at the Warsaw 82 address in April 2025, while local representatives estimate 100 families (300‑400 individuals). Residents claim the actual number is higher, noting that the community once housed several hundred families across multiple generations.

The report documents severe infrastructural problems: ageing water and electricity installations, lack of a full sanitary sewer system (most homes rely on septic tanks), and a high incidence of fire‑related incidents (67 interventions in 2022, 62 in 2023, 70 in 2024, 69 in 2025, and 25 in early 2026). The neighbourhood also suffers from deteriorating building fabric, with many houses described as “in a terrible state”.

The City of Poznań offers housing assistance through programmes such as “POZnań i zamieszkaj”, senior housing, and renovation grants, reporting that around 120 families have received support. The church argues that it has complied with legal obligations and that proceeds from the sale will be used according to canon law. Both parties stress that assistance is being provided, though residents claim it is insufficient to prevent displacement.

Members of the left‑wing party Razem (including MPs Adrian Zandberg, Magdalena Biejat and Marcelina Zawisza) have visited the site, organised protests and submitted parliamentary inquiries demanding transparency on the sale and on the handling of resident rights. The city’s mayor, Jacek Jaśkowiak, has been criticised for perceived reluctance to engage directly with the community.

Plans for the site envisage new residential blocks up to six storeys (17 m) on most of the area, and up to eight storeys (25 m) on a smaller portion. This redevelopment raises questions about social sustainability, as the displacement of long‑term residents conflicts with broader goals of inclusive, affordable housing. The case illustrates the challenges of balancing historic land ownership, urban growth, and the rights of vulnerable communities in European cities.