Riga Passenger Port to become three-level complex
The Norwegian company "Aspade International" has drawn up the Riga Passenger Port^apostrofs;s three-level territorial development project, ordered by the port^apostrofs;s lessee "Rigas pasazieru terminalis Ltd." (RPT).
The Norwegian company "Aspade International" has drawn up the Riga Passenger Port's three-level territorial development project, ordered by the port's lessee "Rigas pasazieru terminalis Ltd." (RPT).
According to the project, an artificial elevation will be built, apartment and office buildings will be constructed on it, whereas underneath, there will be four terminals for cruise ships.
The middle level will include a continuation of Eksporta Street, so that the housing and business area on the upper level could be bypassed by traffic without causing any congestion.
In order to ensure that residents of the area and people who work there can use their personal automobiles, smaller streets and underground parking lots will stem off the middle level's main street, they will be accessible from all buildings on the surface. Elevators will also be constructed so that access to the parking lots is more convenient.
The project stipulates that the underground parking lots will be some 0.8 meters above the Daugava River, the central level, Eksporta Street and the passenger terminals - about 3.5 meters above the Daugava's level.
On the surface of the artificial elevation between Vansu Bridge and Andrejosta, various office buildings, hotels and shopping centers will be built for the most part, whereas the peninsula, where the passenger terminal is currently located, will be topped with six apartment buildings along the Daugava.
Two high-rise buildings will be constructed at Andrejosta, which will include both offices and apartments.
According to the project's designers, there will be wide space among all buildings so that the complex is not crammed together and the Daugava is still visible from the city.
According to the project, the Passenger Port's territory will be open to all residents and guests of the city. The new business and housing district will also include greenery and a large square meant for various entertainment and athletic events.
The Passenger Port's total territory is now about 100,000 square meters, but after the project is carried out, its total area will be about 332,000 square meters, including 138,000 square meters for apartment buildings and private homes, 97,000 square meters for office buildings, and 97,000 square meters for parking lots, where about 3,500 automobiles could be parked.
According to "Aspade International", the Baltic countries and Scandinavia are the world's most-rapidly developing destinations for cruise ships, besides, Riga has a major advantage because the passenger port is located in the heart of the city.
Specialists estimate that in season, 20 weeks between mid-April to mid-September, about 238 cruise ships could visit Riga, each carrying about 800 tourists - at least 190,400 tourists per season.
The project's authors believe that every tourist will spend some USD 100 (LVL 57) a day, and therefore all these passengers will leave LVL 8.4 million in Riga in one season.
These estimates only deal with ships pulling up into the Riga Port during the summer season, not those that will enter the port during the winter season.
According to the project, the current Passenger Port territory will only hold cruise ships, whereas terminals for ferries that operate on regular routes would be moved down the Daugava, closer to the sea.
As reported, the board of the Riga Free Port decided last December to lease out the port's territory to RPT for 30 years and underwrite a loan of LVL 12 million for the company. The guarantee over the loan has already been contested by the prosecutor's office, however.
RPT director Valerijs Barjers told LETA earlier that the port facilities would be constructed first, the commercial buildings will be built only after this, and the project would cost LVL 100-150 million.
Kristaps Ceplis LETA
Copyright © LETA
According to the project, an artificial elevation will be built, apartment and office buildings will be constructed on it, whereas underneath, there will be four terminals for cruise ships.
The middle level will include a continuation of Eksporta Street, so that the housing and business area on the upper level could be bypassed by traffic without causing any congestion.
In order to ensure that residents of the area and people who work there can use their personal automobiles, smaller streets and underground parking lots will stem off the middle level's main street, they will be accessible from all buildings on the surface. Elevators will also be constructed so that access to the parking lots is more convenient.
The project stipulates that the underground parking lots will be some 0.8 meters above the Daugava River, the central level, Eksporta Street and the passenger terminals - about 3.5 meters above the Daugava's level.
On the surface of the artificial elevation between Vansu Bridge and Andrejosta, various office buildings, hotels and shopping centers will be built for the most part, whereas the peninsula, where the passenger terminal is currently located, will be topped with six apartment buildings along the Daugava.
Two high-rise buildings will be constructed at Andrejosta, which will include both offices and apartments.
According to the project's designers, there will be wide space among all buildings so that the complex is not crammed together and the Daugava is still visible from the city.
According to the project, the Passenger Port's territory will be open to all residents and guests of the city. The new business and housing district will also include greenery and a large square meant for various entertainment and athletic events.
The Passenger Port's total territory is now about 100,000 square meters, but after the project is carried out, its total area will be about 332,000 square meters, including 138,000 square meters for apartment buildings and private homes, 97,000 square meters for office buildings, and 97,000 square meters for parking lots, where about 3,500 automobiles could be parked.
According to "Aspade International", the Baltic countries and Scandinavia are the world's most-rapidly developing destinations for cruise ships, besides, Riga has a major advantage because the passenger port is located in the heart of the city.
Specialists estimate that in season, 20 weeks between mid-April to mid-September, about 238 cruise ships could visit Riga, each carrying about 800 tourists - at least 190,400 tourists per season.
The project's authors believe that every tourist will spend some USD 100 (LVL 57) a day, and therefore all these passengers will leave LVL 8.4 million in Riga in one season.
These estimates only deal with ships pulling up into the Riga Port during the summer season, not those that will enter the port during the winter season.
According to the project, the current Passenger Port territory will only hold cruise ships, whereas terminals for ferries that operate on regular routes would be moved down the Daugava, closer to the sea.
As reported, the board of the Riga Free Port decided last December to lease out the port's territory to RPT for 30 years and underwrite a loan of LVL 12 million for the company. The guarantee over the loan has already been contested by the prosecutor's office, however.
RPT director Valerijs Barjers told LETA earlier that the port facilities would be constructed first, the commercial buildings will be built only after this, and the project would cost LVL 100-150 million.
Kristaps Ceplis LETA
Copyright © LETA
