In the center of Trakai, near Lake Luka, as the rowing base is being reconstructed, local residents oppose the construction. Gintaras Abaravičius, director of the Trakai Historical National Park, says that the project is more like cottages than a sports facility.
"It was pointed out that a public object is being turned into a private residential house, possibly. (…) Living spaces are planned there on the second floor, and on the first floor, according to the project solutions, an empty space was left without any purpose and, without a doubt, it is very easy to turn that empty, unplanned space into rooms for additional living space - a kitchen or a living room with a beautiful view of lake", G. Abaravičius told LRT radio.
"Even the toilets are not planned, since the mass of people there must be large, there must not be one or two toilets. Take a shower and store the inventory somewhere," he added.
Gintautas Blažiūnas, chairman of the Law and Ethics Committee of the Senate of the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Vilnius Tech), who designed the building, said that a rowing base is planned in the project, and the residents' dissatisfaction may be due to the fact that the new building would block the lake for some residents.
"Instead, the house will block the lake for them, it is natural that they are unhappy. (…) If they are able to organize a resisting community in front of that house, then let the crumbling house stand," G. Blažiūnas told LRT radio.
"What they see is their problem here. (…) I will refuse this project, I don't need such projects where the client does not agree with the residents, with the government", said the architect.
Dovilė Daudaitė, director of the administration of Trakai municipality, said that there should be a sports building in this place. However, she admitted that the project "does not quite meet the requirements for sports equipment and a sports structure."
"We never received the adjusted design proposals. We believe that in the future, when the investor refines his vision, he will harmonize it according to both our and the residents' vision, then perhaps we will have that beautiful building that is needed by all", said D. Daudaitė to LRT radio.
The public purpose sports base will be built on state-owned land by the company "Mudu abu" registered in the Ukmergė district. The company was founded in 2021.
The author is Goda Vileikytė
