Real estate developers show interest in Daugavpils Fortress

Rejuvenation of the site seems ever more likely

On 9 June, there was a regular meeting of the Daugavpils Fortress Preservation and Development Council in the form of a video conference, during which issues concerning the future fate of several buildings in the historical zone were discussed. The main topics of deliberations were the development opportunities for the fortress hospital (at Hospitāļa Street 6) and the two-storey barracks (at Mihaila Street 11), which were purchased by a company last year.

Considered a prime example of a military fortress from the early 19^th century

The Daugavpils Fortress was begun in 1810 as a way of preparation by the Russian Empire for the upcoming Napoleonic invasion, although it was fully completed only in 1878. Its use as a military site continued, under one form or another, until the 1990s when it became state property.

The first major development was the opening of the Mark Rothko Art Centre on the site of the former Artillery arsenal building. The abstract artist was arguably the most famous person to originate from Daugavpils, so it was a good way to pay honour to his work and legacy.

During the last couple of years, Daugavpils Fortress has undergone significant changes in terms of real estate ownership - some objects, such as buildings at Mihaila Street 10, Nikolaja Street 2, etc., were privately purchased from the municipality or from the state government. At the same time, some objects have become the property of the municipality or are in the process of being taken over – e.g. the building at Mihaila Street 2, the 1st bastion area, etc. 

There is also an active repurchase of historical real estate between individuals and legal entities. All this shows the growing interest of investors in this part of the city.

Development plans for the former hospital and barracks

A potential investor expressed the wish to create a five-star hotel on the site of the military hospital, replete with spa services and, medical and sports centres while preserving the historical authenticity of the complex. This property, with an area exceeding 10,000 square metres, has not been used since 1994.

The situation with the barracks is slightly different - the object has already been bought out by a local company, which plans to renovate the building, creating an apartment complex and a hotel. However, in preparation for the renovation work, it was revealed that the building should be first provided with sufficient power electricity connections.

The substations in the fortress are not intended for the emergence of new large energy consumers in this area. The members of the Council came to the conclusion that such a task should be solved in a proper way, thinking also about other power connections in the future.