Tbilisi Mayor Presents Urban Development Policy Report
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Wednesday, May 19
Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze presented a report on the projects and measures implemented in the field of urban development of Tbilisi.
Urban policy projects and activities implemented during the last three years include the adoption of the New General Development Plan of Tbilisi, through which the correct and sustainable development of the city became irreversible.
The protection zone of the historical part of Tbilisi has been restored. As the mayor noted at the presentation, the municipality will continue the rehabilitation of historic areas in the coming years and every family who has requested home rehabilitation in such areas will be satisfied, all these remarkable buildings and streets will be maintained and passed to future generations.
According to the report, restoration-rehabilitation works of up to 22 buildings located in Orbeliani Square and adjacent streets as well as Gudiashvili Square and about 30 adjacent buildings are being completed; those include historical-cultural heritage monuments as well. Restoration-rehabilitation works of historical buildings were carried out at 27 addresses. Rehabilitation works of the Dedaena Park and March 9 Park are underway and the Rehabilitation of the National Palace of Students and Youth has started; 34 new squares were built instead of the 477 dysfunctional, useless garages.
Kaladze also spoke about the environmental challenges and noted that the maintenance and development of green spaces in the city is one of the main priorities for the municipal government. According to Kaladze, as a result of the efforts made by the government of the capital, the practice of construction at the expense of recreational spaces is a thing of the past.
The Vice-Mayor of the capital Irakli Khmaladze noted that, according to the new general plan adopted in 2019, the area of one million square meters was granted the status of a recreational zone and, 5 large-scale park areas have been created: city park in the Mtkvari floodplains - 135 ha area, Dirsi floodplain park - 11 ha, Vazisubani park - 25 ha, Digomi floodplain park - 15 ha, Marzubani park - 24 ha. The implementation of these projects requires significant funds and further details will be covered at the presentation of the environmental policy.
According to the Vice-Mayor, the area of 1,400 hectares has been given a historical landscape protection zone, while the 140 million square meter area has been given a forest zone.
Khmaladze stated that City Hall has protected many areas in the capital from chaotic development, since the construction permit is not issued until its detailed planning has taken place. He discussed Digomi Forest Park, where the territories were privatized, however, a significant part of it has already been redeemed. Vice-Mayor also brought the examples of Turtle Lake, area around Sports Palace, vicinity of Vake Park and others, where no building permits were granted. According to him, in recent years, the previously harmful practice of exceeding the construction coefficients as well as construction permits in squares, parks and sports areas were banned.
"We will issue construction permits for uninhabited, unregulated areas throughout the capital in case of detailed planning. Such areas are: areas adjacent to the Tbilisi Sea, Lisi Lake, etc. In total, there are 11 areas, which were defined by the general plan,” said Khmaladze.
Tbilisi Municipality has set new, important standards in the field of development plans: transport research, dendrological project development and planning of engineering networks are being developed in practice. In the direction of development plans, the standard for side walks has been established.
