Podgorica and Maribor manage vacant municipal commercial spaces

Municipalities in Podgorica and Maribor are managing various numbers of vacant commercial spaces as they attempt to maintain urban vitality.

In Podgorica, the Agency for Construction and Development manages 203 municipal business premises, 191 of which are currently leased. Only 12 spaces remain vacant, primarily located in Blok 9, Zabjelo, and parts of the city center. The agency reports an annual rental income exceeding 1.1 million euros. Officials noted that vacancies typically last between one month and one year, often due to location or lack of attractiveness. Rental prices for these spaces range between 15 and 20 euros per square meter.

In Maribor, the municipality reports 34 unoccupied business premises in the city center, with four already included in public tenders. The Municipality of Maribor aims to increase occupancy through active marketing and public calls to revitalize the urban core. Efforts to stimulate the area include the renovation of the Main Square and Lent, the development of a new library, and subsidies for facade restoration. The city also focuses on cultural programming and tourism to ensure daily activity in the center.