Vilnius aims not to leave such places to decay, but to responsibly revive them for new life, while re-evaluating the natural values that have formed there over time.
From the municipality’s perspective, one of the most important directions along the Neris River is to first activate what has already been urbanized, rather than creating new infrastructure in riverbanks untouched by human activity so far. This principle is also applied to several projects raising public discussions – the planned rowing base in Žirmūnai, the revival of the Winter Port, and the abandoned boat shed on T. Kosciuška Street.
About the future of these and other Neris riverbank objects, their adaptation to new functions, and the balance between the city and nature, a discussion titled “Cannot be left unattended: is there space for people on the Neris riverbanks?” was held at the “Būtent!” festival. Participants included Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas, architect Andrius Ropolas from Office De Architectura, and Živilė Šimkutė, head urbanist of MASH studio, with architect Matas Šiupšinskas moderating the discussion.
“When we talk about changes on the Neris riverbanks, it is important to distinguish new interventions into natural areas from places that were already urbanized before. Some of the areas that today appear overgrown and natural were actually ports, sports, or other infrastructure. Our goal is to first revive what was already used by people, but to do so responsibly, taking into account the natural values that have formed there over time,” says Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.
Rowing base: solutions have already been changed to reduce environmental impact
One of the projects raising the most questions is the planned rowing base in Žirmūnai. Vilnius rowers have been waiting for this infrastructure for decades, and today they have to train in Trakai. Although the capital has the Neris River, it lacks modern rowing infrastructure.
When planning the base, the aim was to concentrate new development where there are already abandoned buildings and paved areas. Considering the mature tree mass formed in the northern part of the plot, after the initial project was publicized, the detailed plan was adjusted – buildings were moved, reduced, and more concentrated in the already urbanized part of the area. This aims to preserve more than 60 trees.
Even before the environmental impact assessment, decisions related to the Neris itself were changed. The initial plans included deepening the riverbed along the quay perimeter, where rowing coaches’ boats were to be moored, but after consultations with the Environmental Protection Agency, these decisions were abandoned, leaving only minimal deepening at the entrance to the inner quay.
Currently, the active design of the rowing base is paused, awaiting the environmental impact assessment. If its conclusions require additional changes, the project solutions will have to be adjusted.
“This project clearly shows that environmental assessments and public comments are not a formality. Solutions have already been changed to preserve mature trees and reduce intervention into the river itself. If the environmental impact assessment shows that further changes are needed, we will make them,” says V. Benkunskas.
Asked how much city projects truly take public comments into account, the mayor emphasized that Vilnius consciously chooses a more open, though longer and more complex, project preparation process for residents.
“We have consciously chosen the path of openness and public involvement. It is more complicated and takes longer, but the discussion stage is very important. Publicizing does not mean that everyone will be satisfied afterward or that every comment can be considered – there are technical and legal circumstances. However, going through this process, listening to each other, and seeking the best solution is very important. We try to do this practically with every project,” said V. Benkunskas.
Winter Port – not a new intervention, but a restoration of former functions
Another example is the Žirmūnai Winter Port, established during the interwar period. Historically, navigation on the Neris riverbank was quite intense, but the infrastructure for servicing boats disappeared around the 1950s, part of the port area was privatized, Soviet metal sheds were built instead of former brick buildings, and the port itself was abandoned.
According to the city mayor, in such places it is important to evaluate not only how the area looks today but also its previous function. If a port already operated on the riverbank and dedicated infrastructure was created, its revival is a smaller intervention than creating a similar function in a new, previously non-urbanized area.
Živilė Šimkutė, head urbanist of MASH studio, pointed out in the discussion that when talking about the Neris as a public space, it is sometimes forgotten that even a small adaptation for people requires some intervention.
“To place a bench, you have to be able to access it; to create a path, the ground must be compacted; to ensure safety, electricity and lighting must be installed. A city public space does not work without any intervention,” said Ž. Šimkutė.
According to her, the same applies to navigation. “If the city wants to have navigation, it must have the Winter Port. It is an infrastructure facility needed for boat repairs, electrical and sewage systems, rest, and wintering,” said Ž. Šimkutė.
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Currently, the Winter Port in Žirmūnai is the only backwater where boats and pontoon equipment can be safely stored during winter and ice drift in spring. However, the port is silted up, it cannot accommodate all boat operators active in the city, and there is no infrastructure for lifting boats – slipways and crane areas – in Vilnius. Therefore, boat servicing is unsafe, and during ice drift, incidents increase when objects carried by ice damage the quays.
Currently, reconstruction project proposals for the port are being prepared. City representatives will present them to Vilnius residents soon.
Boat shed in the city center – heritage to be preserved
On T. Kosciuška Street right by the Neris stands another currently abandoned object – the former boat shed. It is a cultural heritage site and one of the few places where the city sees the possibility to bring people back to the river.
Today, the object is in an emergency condition, so the decision to revive it was related not only to the city’s vision to increase access to the Neris River but also to the need to preserve a valuable interwar object, which housed the Vilnius Rowing Club, and to maintain the engineering stability of T. Kosciuška Street. The boat shed’s retaining wall supports the entire street structure, so its reconstruction is necessary.
The city’s goal is to find a way to renovate it, adapt it for functional use, and at the same time preserve what is valuable from engineering, architectural, and natural perspectives. This fall, Vilnius residents will be invited to creative workshops where discussions will be held about what functions are needed for this historic space.
Where does caution end and city needs begin?
The discussion also included the view that excessive caution can confine the city within the limits of previous urbanization. According to architect Andrius Ropolas, today’s discussion about the Neris riverbanks often swings between two extremes – either development occurs only where the area was already affected by previous urbanization, or changes are avoided altogether.
“I would like this discussion to return to a balance where we could more boldly talk about the possibilities of doing something where it is really needed, not just where someone built a garage many years ago,” said A. Ropolas.
In his opinion, great caution leads to new solutions often being sought based on infrastructure formed during the Soviet era – former garages, warehouses, or other objects’ locations, although these are not always the best places for today’s city needs.
V. Benkunskas responded that the primary reason to focus on already urbanized areas is not fear of change but a logical sequence of city development.
“If the natural framework has already been intervened in – the area excavated, trees removed, buildings constructed – it is natural to first take care of such places. After fixing them, it is possible to assess whether further development is needed by society, and then seek a balance between intervention in nature and people’s needs living in the city,” said the mayor.
According to him, city decisions are based not only on views or political choices – there are clear legal boundaries: protected Natura 2000 areas, the city’s general plan, which defines urbanized and non-urbanized areas and green spaces.
“We have to reconcile different legitimate expectations and interests. In such matters, we cannot rely solely on emotions – we have legal documents and a clear legal environment that determines where and what actions are possible. We cannot ignore this because then we would start destroying the order we have created as a democratic state,” said V. Benkunskas.
According to the mayor, different pressures are felt from both sides – one part of society urges to protect nature, not to touch even previously urbanized, now abandoned areas, while on the other hand, there is business interest in development.
“The city faces pressure from both sides, so our task is to find a balance,” said the mayor.
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