The heyday of the Vidzeme Market, located in the very center of Riga, is long behind us. Traders and shoppers alike have been looking forward to the market's revival for years. Rita Aļeksejeva has been working here for 35 years and concludes that the infrastructure needs to be renewed first.
"The view here is dramatic. If you organize events, you could have a separate playground for children, which would bring more people to the market," said Rita.
Agnija Reinika, a shopper, said that she would support the project "that was started, that the former meat pavilion could be a concert hall, it could be different concerts in the open air".
Baiba Beatrise Sleže, head of the market manager LLC "Rīgas Nami", said that, to their surprise, the idea of a Night Market on Wednesday evenings, implemented last year, had proved to be a success in Vidzeme Market. It has not slowed down since last year.
Architect Danna Degle sees the future of the market as an object around which to gather the community.
"It would be a green oasis in the center and at the same time a market and various events, such as Museum Night and White Night, would take place here," the architect outlined her vision.
Architect Kevins Kaļāns said: "I know Vidzeme Market as a very degraded area and there was a great interest in restoring it," said Kevins Kaļāns.
The market manager, Rīgas nami SIA, hopes that a common vision for the development of the market should be reached within this year.
"Looking at all this infrastructure, it requires significant investment and we will have to find a model how this project can be financed," said Baiba Beatrise Sleže.
