Hockey Federation will ask Riga City Council to authorize construction of ice hockey arena on territory of former horse race track
This week, the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation will send a letter to the Riga City Council, asking that a plot of land where the former Riga horse race track (The Hippodrome) was located be offered for construction of a new ice hockey arena for the 2006 world ice hockey championships in Riga, the federation^apostrofs;s press secretary Laila Millere told LETA.
This week, the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation will send a letter to the Riga City Council, asking that a plot of land where the former Riga horse race track (The Hippodrome) was located be offered for construction of a new ice hockey arena for the 2006 world ice hockey championships in Riga, the federation's press secretary Laila Millere told LETA.
In one month, "Metala buvju sistemas Ltd." (MBS) and "Mutihalle Ltd.", selected by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation's board to implement the project, must sign a cooperation agreement. It could also be set in the agreement how investors represented by these two companies will guarantee implementation of the multi-functional arena project.
Since the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation has decided to launch construction of the ice hockey arena on the territory of the former Riga horse race track, the Riga City Council could again review setting the land aside for construction and thus revoke its previous decision on reserving land in Lucavsala, the Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars said in an interview on Latvian State Radio yesterday morning.
On August 20, the Riga City Council decided to reserve 452,980 square meters in Lucavsala for construction of an arena and various annexes. Bojars has not yet received any letters from the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation, asking that another land plot be reserved. "We have only received a petition on Lucavsala earlier," the mayor explained.
The Riga City Council has also offered other land plots, private or state-owned, for construction of the ice hockey arena. "I don't want to comment on the [federation's] decision too soon," Bojars added.
As for possible tax breaks for the construction of the arena, Bojars said: "The question is what requests or claims the city council will receive - whether the city will have to invest into infrastructure". If a far-reaching decision is adopted, all aspects must be taken into account; even if the city does not have to invest money in infrastructure, it is possible that the city will assist the project with property tax breaks, the mayor said.
In commenting on the fate of family gardens on the territory of the former race track, Bojars said that "implementation of the project will take considerable time," and "owners of the family gardens could feel safe enough next season yet".
"Of course, the desires and requests of the owners of family gardens and also city development tendencies must be taken into account. Unfortunately, one cannot grow carrots on land that is worth LVL 100 per square meter," the mayor commented.
There are also other options, and "proposals will follow soon". "There are rather many plots of land in Riga municipal forests, that could be the subject of long-term contracts with owners of family gardens, unlike the current situation when contracts are signed for a period of one year and then prolonged each year," the mayor said.
No hasty decisions will be adopted until people are provided with less expensive and more rational locations for the family gardens.
Dainis Mikelsons LETA
Copyright © LETA
In one month, "Metala buvju sistemas Ltd." (MBS) and "Mutihalle Ltd.", selected by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation's board to implement the project, must sign a cooperation agreement. It could also be set in the agreement how investors represented by these two companies will guarantee implementation of the multi-functional arena project.
Since the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation has decided to launch construction of the ice hockey arena on the territory of the former Riga horse race track, the Riga City Council could again review setting the land aside for construction and thus revoke its previous decision on reserving land in Lucavsala, the Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars said in an interview on Latvian State Radio yesterday morning.
On August 20, the Riga City Council decided to reserve 452,980 square meters in Lucavsala for construction of an arena and various annexes. Bojars has not yet received any letters from the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation, asking that another land plot be reserved. "We have only received a petition on Lucavsala earlier," the mayor explained.
The Riga City Council has also offered other land plots, private or state-owned, for construction of the ice hockey arena. "I don't want to comment on the [federation's] decision too soon," Bojars added.
As for possible tax breaks for the construction of the arena, Bojars said: "The question is what requests or claims the city council will receive - whether the city will have to invest into infrastructure". If a far-reaching decision is adopted, all aspects must be taken into account; even if the city does not have to invest money in infrastructure, it is possible that the city will assist the project with property tax breaks, the mayor said.
In commenting on the fate of family gardens on the territory of the former race track, Bojars said that "implementation of the project will take considerable time," and "owners of the family gardens could feel safe enough next season yet".
"Of course, the desires and requests of the owners of family gardens and also city development tendencies must be taken into account. Unfortunately, one cannot grow carrots on land that is worth LVL 100 per square meter," the mayor commented.
There are also other options, and "proposals will follow soon". "There are rather many plots of land in Riga municipal forests, that could be the subject of long-term contracts with owners of family gardens, unlike the current situation when contracts are signed for a period of one year and then prolonged each year," the mayor said.
No hasty decisions will be adopted until people are provided with less expensive and more rational locations for the family gardens.
Dainis Mikelsons LETA
Copyright © LETA
