Školska knjiga Building 96 Apartments in Peščenica: Square Meter Prices Already Reaching €7,000
Location permit issued for residential-commercial complex on Borongajska Road, with as many as 377 parking spaces planned in underground levels.
Location permit issued for residential-commercial complex on Borongajska Road, with as many as 377 parking spaces planned in underground levels.
On the site of the former Mladost bookstore chain in Zagreb's Peščenica neighborhood, Školska knjiga plans to build a large residential-commercial complex. The project received its location permit in early August 2026 from the City Office for Construction, Spatial Planning, and Building, marking a key step toward realization. As first reported by Jutarnji list journalist Korana Sutlić, this ambitious undertaking will further reshape this part of the city.
The complex will span a plot of about 10,000 square meters along Borongajska Road, near the GIP Pionir buildings and the Cedevita plant. The total gross floor area will be 23,473 square meters, of which 20,389 square meters will be above ground. The building is designed as two above-ground volumes connected by two underground levels, with both parts rising to eight stories (ground floor plus seven).
According to the preliminary design by architect Davorin Vaniček and the firm Struktura inženjering, the building will house 96 apartments. In addition to the residential section, there will be five commercial spaces for hospitality businesses and seven office spaces. Notably, the underground garage will offer 377 parking spaces, a significant number for a project of this size.
The plot coverage is 36 percent, with a building footprint of about 2,915 square meters. The project also ensures about 22 percent of natural terrain. Vehicle access to the public road will be from the existing public surface of Borongajska Road, where the Mladost sign still stands at the entrance. The ground floor of commercial volume B will also house a transformer station.
The property is currently owned by Školska knjiga, headed by Ante Žužul, chairman of the supervisory board. The former plant and its land came into the company's possession after Mladost, once one of Croatia's strongest bookstore chains and publishing houses, ceased to exist in its original form. According to land registry records, a lien, or mortgage, in favor of HPB was registered on the property back in 2010 to secure 1,602,473 US dollars in kuna equivalent. The former Mladost bookstore chain, which once operated the famous bookstore at 30 Ilica Street (now a Zara store), was the previous owner of this land.
From Školska knjiga's management, they briefly stated that more information would be available in September. Before construction begins, a building permit will also need to be obtained.
The project arrives amid an intense transformation of Peščenica, where new residential buildings have begun to sprout in the areas of Bužanova, Heinzelova, and Darwinova streets. This trend is now spreading from Donje Svetice toward Borongajska Road. Square meter prices in this part of the city range from 3,000 euros for older construction up to 7,000 euros for certain apartments and buildings in the pipeline. Exactly how much a square meter will cost in the new complex is difficult to estimate at this point.
"We're a bit disappointed. When we bought our apartment, they told us nothing would be built on the neighboring plot due to unresolved property issues," complained a resident of a nearby building who fears the new building might be too close.
On the adjacent plot, there is also a larger Ina area with industrial buildings. The location permit was issued according to the amended General Urban Plan of the City of Zagreb.
