A snowy and frosty January is no reason to cancel the celebration. Especially since the foundation for a great pasākums was laid by Vilnis Kirsis during his time as mayor of the capital.
The Best View of the River
Last year, the situation for "New Unity" was not favorable, Kirsis fell in status to vice-mayor, but the promenade on Mukusalas Street was indeed opened.
Everything seems beautiful, especially from a bird's-eye view. However, standing there in a winter blizzard is simply unbearable. The snowy and icy object, however, was photographed with a drone before the cyclone.
It is to be expected that hipsters will soon flock here from the nearby trendy district of Agenskalns, which, along with Čiekurkalns, is part of the sweetest pair of advanced historical locations. The only question is how all these people will overcome the double road in this place, near the National Library, on Mukusalas Street. Well, when (and if) they get there, they will surely be able to drink culturally while sitting on the logs laid on the steps. Although only a few square meters have been equipped with boards.
This is our, excuse me, pilsētvide – "urban environment conducive to quality of life," as stated in the report on the introduction of the Long-Term Development Strategy for Riga until 2030. By that time, the number of residents satisfied with the municipality's work in arranging their neighborhood should reach 75% – up from 51% in 2025. And do you know how many were satisfied in the "wrong" 2012? 70.6%!
Who Lives Well in the Capital
Although many justifiably criticize the Old Town for the noisy crowds and the lack of grocery stores in the "nearby" format, Vecrīga confidently won the quality of life survey. An impressive 80.5% of the local residents are satisfied.
However, your author suspects that the pleasure of living on cultural layers of many centuries is also based on the material component – if you bought a property in Vecrīga, then life is good. Theoretically, of course, one can find residents of several Soviet apartment buildings who have lived there since the socialist era.
The second place with 79.3% satisfaction rightfully goes to Mežaparks. Here, there are already quite a few brick and panel buildings, and in terms of the number of residents, they can be compared with the owners of denationalized and newly built mansions. Nearby is a wonderful lake, beach, forest park, and now several large supermarkets. Live and rejoice, especially since the State Revenue Service is also within walking distance.
Closing the top three with 76.1% satisfied residents is the modest neighborhood of Bierini, located behind the main K. Ulmanis Road, on the border with the Marupe region. This last circumstance characterizes its cottage nature, which can be afforded by the middle and upper property class.
Discontented Districts
The most dissatisfied neighborhood, according to surveys, is Daugavgrīva. With its 48.5%, it is truly a unique area where less than half are satisfied, which is not the case anywhere else in Riga. It seemed that Bolderāja was very close, but there significantly more are satisfied, 68.4%. Or the port-industrial Vecmilgrāvis – 70.3%.
Your author can only express a subjective opinion – the assessment of the coastal area, lying among picturesque forests and meadows, of Daugavgrīva could have been influenced by external socio-economic conditions. Because if your pension is delayed for several months, then even the surrounding natural beauty does not bring joy.
Where Investments Will Be Made
In fact, not everything is so bleak. Daugavgrīva looks quite convincing in terms of the number of implemented investment projects – 29, which is a lot compared to Vecmilgrāvis (13), Mežciems (14), and Kengarags (23).
However, there are also highly active "sleeping" districts. Imanta has 44 projects, Teika has 39, and Tornakalns has 36.
By the way, regarding the last district, readers should reflect. In recent years, the former post-industrial neglected area has transformed. Primarily thanks to the grand constructions of the University of Latvia. Accordingly, the old housing stock is gradually being reborn – both wooden architecture of the 19th to early 20th centuries and brick and panel buildings from the five-year plans.
Although, of course, the recent gas explosion in a house on Bauskas could have dealt a significant blow to the complacency of Tornakalns residents.
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