The move came at the behest of the Latvian state’s joint-stock company Radio and Television Center (LVRTC), which hopes to convert the TV tower and surrounding land into an attractive site for city residents and guests to visit as tourists and for recreation.
The Council still has to approve the Committee’s recommendation on the local zoning survey, the costs of which will be covered by the LVRTC.
The reconstruction plans envision a new observation deck and restaurant at the spire of the tower, while below on the ground and belowground there are plans for a stylized model of Latvia worked into the landscaping at a scale of 1:4000, including all topography, rivers, roads and cities.
On the lower three floors of the tower structure would be exposition space that could be used for various purposes.
Also envisioned are parking lots, an expansion of the pedestrian tunnel and other improvements.
Because of the electromagnetic field historically radiating from the tower, the land is currently zoned as technical construction territory. However the LVRTC points out that new zoning options are available for the land now that new solutions have been introduced into the broadcasting system, allowing for more broad and multifarious types of public use.
The City Council already approved a local zoning survey on the northern side of Zaķusala, where it is hoped a business and conference center could be built.
