Signaling a policy change by the Addis Abeba City Administration, Deputy Mayor Takele Uma inaugurated condominium projects that will be built in centre city. The projects are expected to cost the government 56 billion Br and be completed in two years time.

The 20,504 condominium units will be built in the nine districts of the city and will occupy 69ha of land. Creating over 52,000 job opportunities, the projects will include 174 blocks of condominiums, each of which will have a separate contractor.

The event was inaugurated in Leghar, in the Qirqos district, that will get 10 condominium blocks that will accommodate 1,680 houses. The event was held on a plot of land earmarked for the condominium blocks after houses that used to stand there were grazed.

“From the experiences of the previous projects, we have learned that it is important to settle the residents around the same areas so as not to disrupt their social lives,” said Takele.

Kassanesh Anlew, who was born in Qirqos District, attended the meeting.

“I can’t wait to see the apartments built in Qirkos,” she said. “However, the district has to consider those who do not own homes but have been living in rental houses for the past decade.”

Kassanesh and people like her, who were born in the district but do not have their own homes, are concerned that the programme might not consider them.

Another one of the housing projects will be in Bole District on a plot of land located next to the Addis Abeba Bole International Airport. The City Administration plans to build 28 condominium blocks in the area. The plot of land that has now been cleared was also a site for the Green Legacy campaign on July 29, 2019, where seedlings were planted.

"When I planted the seedlings, I was happy to make my "green legacy," but now all the seeds are destroyed," said Wondesen Ali, who washes cars in a space around the area. He nonetheless appreciates the City Administration's efforts to meet the housing demand.

The City Administration has a plan to build 500,000 additional homes for the residents of the capital in the near future. Out of these, 150,000 will be built by the City Administration and the rest will be built by either private players or under public-private partnerships.