Bălți restores historic Bodescu House tied to 1918 union
Bălți has reopened the restored Bodescu House, where the county Zemstvo backed a motion for union with Romania in 1918, as the North Regional Development Agency’s new headquarters.
The reopening was marked by the signing of funding agreements worth more than €7.2 million (approx. 145 million MDL), supporting infrastructure and development projects across five districts.
A historic building takes on a new role
Until now, the North Regional Development Agency (RDA North) had operated from the Multifunctional Centre on Vasile Alecsandri Square, where available space was insufficient for its needs.
Restoration work on Bodescu House began in October 2024 and cost nearly €0.8 million (approx. 16 million MDL), funded by the Moldovan Government.
“Restoration and rehabilitation works were carried out on the building, including reconstruction of the roof, replacement of windows and doors, façade rehabilitation, renovation of interior spaces and modernisation of utility systems,” said Maria Prisacari, head of RDA North.
During the interwar period, the building housed the Prefecture of Bălți County. Its historical significance dates back to March 3, 1918, when the Bălți County Zemstvo voted in favour of a motion calling for Bessarabia's union with Romania. The formal Union vote followed in Chișinău on March 27.
“Bodescu House is reopening its doors, bringing hope through the survival of a symbol that could not be erased, but adapted to changing times. It is a historic place where the Union was voted for,” said Romania's Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Cristian-Leon Țurcanu.
The building's restoration also creates a new tourist attraction for Bălți, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea said.
“This project puts a new tourist attraction on the map of Bălți. We are here for culture and civilisation, and through every project implemented by the Government of the Republic of Moldova, building by building, town by town, school by school, we are restoring and rebuilding the country,” Bolea said.
More than €7 million for regional infrastructure
Alongside the reopening, funding agreements worth more than €7.2 million (approx. 145 million MDL) were signed for infrastructure projects across five districts.
Edineț will receive a modern farmers' market designed to give small producers, particularly those in agriculture, more opportunities to sell their goods.
“The market will give all small producers, especially those in agriculture, the opportunity to display and sell their products, including outside regular trading hours, rather than being restricted to the traditional morning-to-noon schedule,” said Edineț Mayor Constantin Cojocaru.
In Soroca, the sewerage network will be expanded. Meanwhile, Sângerei will receive nearly €1.04 million (approx. 21 million MDL) to continue its urban regeneration project.
The works will include new pavements, road asphalting, reconstruction of the courtyard at Kindergarten No. 6, and the rehabilitation of residential courtyards and pedestrian areas.
“The project involves paving footpaths, resurfacing roads, reconstructing the courtyard of Kindergarten No. 6, and rehabilitating courtyards and pavements in our neighbourhoods,” said Sângerei Mayor Arcadie Covaliov.
Two further projects will target tourism and sanitation infrastructure.
More than €1.39 million (approx. 28 million MDL) will be allocated to rehabilitating a tourist and recreation area in Drochia district, while approximately €2.19 million (approx. 44 million MDL) will fund the expansion of the sewerage network in Dondușeni.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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