LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR TBILISI ... - LED

The results of the 25 April earthquake in 2002 emphasized the complaints of the poor
proprietors of the damages houses in the direction of government. Simultaneously with
the lack of care rapid degradation of housing fund, in one trace with political and economic
stabilization, commercial housing construction began development; social (municipal,
public) housing fund was not being built in Tbilisi even till nowadays – despite the
necessity, societal requirements and international recommendations.
Commercial housing construction mainly was intending to concentrate on historically
formed, most prestigious districts such as Vake, Vera, Mtatsminda. Prestige category,
characteristic for Georgian culture, and which finally, is reflected in the prices of real
estate, acquired commercial meaning and was also reflected in some normative acts.
New multi-storied houses were often built without accounting accurate city constructive
situation, sanitary-hygienic or housing norms, despite the protests of residents. Today its
already evident, that such tightening of building in prestigious districts caused ecological
problems, surplus of individual transport, overloading of social-cultural and engineeringtechnical
infrastructure, and finally, decline of urban environment quality.
In recent years in the sector of housing construction developer activities acquired more
civilized look. It is worth to mention, that developer activities is expanding in terms of
territory and it is moving to the regions near to the centre (Saburtalo); and recently to the
regions, early considered not to be prestigious.
In the terms of above, best example is Avlabari district, which despite its features (central
position, good micro-climate, transport infrastructure, best view and exposition to the
various parts of the country), was unevenly positioned on the lower place in the
classification of prestige districts. Avlabari was being implemented such city forming
activities, as construction of the Saint Trinity Cathedral and office of the President of
Georgia. All above mentioned increased the district prestige and relatively price on the
land.
Some developers take even more accurate steps and directs its interests to yet nonprestigious
territories. As an instance of this must serve start-up project called “Ortachalis
Turfa” implemented by the “Arci” company in the south-East part of the city, and which
attracts buyers with relatively low prices and complexity of building (with the components
of social infrastructure).
But, in terms of territorial attractiveness, traditional priority is on the side of housing
construction at the edge of Tbilisi North and North-West (Bagebi, Didi Digomi), where
important territorial resources and using of former agricultural lands made possible to
create homestead building. Besides the best micro-climate conditions, prestige of this
zone was also encouraged by the construction of the new Embassy of the USA.
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