How Jared Kushner’s Luxe Hotel Scheme Ignited a City Rebellion

A luxury real estate venture backed by Jared Kushner in Serbia has stoked fierce opposition from public officials and civilians who have accused Kushner of cultural insensitivity over the project.

The proposal from Kushner’s Affinity Group investment firm is aimed at building a high rise hotel and ritzy apartment building on the site of the bombed out former Serbian army headquarters in Belgrade.

A local opposition group, the Kreni-Promeni or “Make Changes” movement, launched a petition earlier this week against it that garnered some 10,000 signatures in just a matter of hours. As of Friday, more than 25,000 people had signed the petition.

Serbian officials who spoke with The Daily Beast described the project as inappropriate for several reasons—including its impact on “the cultural heritage” of Belgrade, said Serbian politician and opposition leader Borko Stefanovic.