Lastādija quarter

Lastādija Culture and business quarter between Kārļa Mīlenbaha, Latgales and Vilhelma Purvīša streets. Total land area is 9,150 m².

Since 2017, all properties of the quarter have been entrusted for management to the NGO “Free Riga”, following the principles of building guardianship and placemaking. In its activities, the NGO adapts a Western European model for the temporary use of vacant buildings for public benefit purposes (e.g. – for social temporary use of vacant property). This model enables abandoned buildings and areas to be used as a resource and a support platform for organizing activities in the public interest and, at the neighbourhood and block scale, helps to socially revitalize abandoned properties and areas at risk of degradation.

By implementing this model, the NGO first reaches agreements with property owners on taking over unused properties — often exposed to degradation risks — for temporary use while the property is idle and its next development phase is being planned. Second, it organizes public-benefit projects within these properties that respond to the needs of the neighbourhood and the city, by engaging, coordinating, and supporting the NGO’s members, residents, and volunteers who use these spaces to carry out public-benefit activities in line with the objectives defined for each NGO project.

On the property at Latgales street 9, a landscaped open-surface parking lot has been developed (operator: SIA “Snabb”) with a capacity of 121 cars.

In the longer term, in connection with the Rail Baltica project implementation, further development of the Lastādija Culture and Business quarter is planned. This includes both the construction of new mixed-use buildings and the preservation and restoration of the culturally and historically valuable urban fabric at 13 Vilhelma Purvīša Street, 15 Vilhelma Purvīša Street, 17 Vilhelma Purvīša Street, and 8c Elijas Street.