Due to the Riga Waterfront business and recreational center project, the protection zone of the historic center of Riga may be proposed for reduction, reports Latvijas Radio.
In mid-March, the National Heritage Board presented a report prepared by Riga Waterfront on the impact of the development vision for Andrejsala on the historic center of Riga and its protection zone. The document itself is not publicly available; however, it was presented by representatives of the investors Eagle Hills.
The head of the National Heritage Board, Inara Bula, stated that the new project will be visible from various points in Riga and will affect the city’s skyline.
According to her, it is also necessary to think about the opposite bank — for example, about Kipsala, whose residents will see the construction daily. "We must think about how Riga is developing while preserving our uniqueness and not worsening the quality of life for those already living here," Bula explained on Latvijas Radio.
In response to the question of whether it is possible to reconcile her agency's desire to protect Riga's cultural and historical heritage with the interests of developers and their desire to build modern buildings, she noted that Riga needs to develop.
"New people, new life are needed. In the historic center of Riga, especially in Old Riga and the adjacent areas, we would like to see developers, entrepreneurial activity, and the return of our own residents," said the head of the board.
The chairman of the Riga City Council's urban development committee, Edgars Bergholcs, suggested in a conversation with Latvijas Radio that he might propose an initiative to reduce the protection zone of the historic center of Riga to facilitate the development of Riga Waterfront and other projects.
According to the politician, he does not see added value in such a large buffer zone around Old Riga.
The reduction of the protection zone is also supported by Ainars Slesers, a deputy of the Riga City Council from "Latvia First," who previously actively promoted this project and stated in his declaration upon taking office as a deputy of the Riga City Council that he is a member of the board of SIA Riga Waterfront.
"The Riga Waterfront project is being implemented in Andrejsala, which was recently a port area where large volumes of cargo were transshipped. Andrejsala also housed the Rīga Krasta railway station, which serviced trains that ensured the cargo flow for the entire right bank port of Riga. This area was unattractive, closed off to the residents of Riga, and the air was polluted," Slesers stated on Latvijas Radio.
In turn, the head of the "New Unity" faction, Linda Ozola, noted that the protection zone is enshrined in law, so the Riga City Council itself cannot change it.
The Secretary General of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, Baiba Molnika, explained to Latvijas Radio that the state has taken responsibility for preserving historical heritage. Accordingly, this means that the Riga City Council cannot make decisions to reduce the protection zone.
Earlier, LETA reported that a businessman from the United Arab Emirates and the head of the developer company Eagle Hills Properties, Mohamed Ali Alabbar, plans to create housing for 30,000 residents as part of the Riga Waterfront development project.
The founder and chairman of the board of Eagle Hills Properties, Alabbar, notes that the goal of Riga Waterfront is to "develop and revitalize Latvia and its capital Riga, positioning it as a new center of Europe."
With a total planned investment of three billion euros, the updated waterfront, which will stretch five kilometers along the Daugava River, is expected to transform the Andrejsala area into a new city center. The project is envisioned as a new significant urban hub, combining residential buildings, green spaces, and direct access to water.
It is expected that more than 30,000 residents will live in approximately 8,000 homes as part of the project. Hotels with more than 1,000 hospitality offerings, ice rinks, a modern cruise terminal, a large shopping center, and public spaces are also planned. According to the project, the area of the old power station is to be transformed into a trading platform and gastronomic center.
