'Corner house' in Rīga to be protected by special law

Take note – story published 1 year ago

A special law will be developed for the protection and restoration of Tetera House on Brīvības Street 61, Rīga, the so-called Corner House, where the KGB museum is located, said State JSC “State Real Estate” (Valsts nekustamie īpašumi, VNĪ) board member Andris Vārna on January 31.

The 'Corner House' on Brīvības Street 61 is managed by VNĪ. The building is a cultural historical monument and an estate of national importance. As reported by LSM, in 2021, VNĪ announced that due to safety concerns, the house needs capital repairs, otherwise it cannot operate in any way. If capital repairs are not done, the operating rights would be terminated as of May 7, 2024. It would also mean that the KGB museum, which has lease rights in the house until 2050, would close.

“Since 2021, VNĪ has called on the government to take a decision on the content of the building, which would allow the operation of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia to be maintained at Tetera House, Brīvības Street 61, Rīga,” VNĪ  said. “The coalition decision makes it clear about the future of the house – it needs to be maintained by the public administration and the special law will define the protection of the Tetera House, the conditions for restoration, and the sources of funding.”

“The decision taken will not bring the necessary solutions tomorrow, but it will allow long-term solutions to be found and the future development issues of the House will be resolved in substance,” said Vārna.

VNĪ as a State capital company has developed a construction plan for the necessary emergency jobs at the Corner House or Tetera House. The project includes the prevention of arbitrary construction and the renovation of the patio division, which would enable the building to continue operating and the use of museum spaces until May 7, 2024. The estimated costs of the work to be carried out will be at least EUR 300,000.

In 2020, the National Cultural Heritage Board granted the building the status of a historic event location, but this decision does not resolve the issue of the use of an economic building and the source of funding for the building. At the end of the same year, VNĪ received objections from the Ministry of Culture regarding the house auction, so it was decided to suspend the sale of the building.

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