After a decade of hiatus, the construction of a new shopping center has begun: it is clear what it will be like

The building permit was issued a decade ago.

The project is currently being developed by Dakus, a company affiliated with GB Group. acquired Pavilnionių st. 55 plot. Delphi He wrote a few years ago that Olinda had promised to build a new shopping center on this parcel for many years, but he got stuck. According to data from the Registry Center, Pavilnionių st. 55 belongs to Dakus, who is also the sole shareholder of Olinda.

According to the Registry Center data, Giedrius Barysas, one of the richest Lithuanian businessmen, as well as Vaidas Kaulius and Dainius Gurevičius are the shareholders of Dakus through other companies (Nodeta and Ambro Invest).

On the website of the Vilnius City Municipality in 2019. Project proposals submitted in 2009 state that the construction permit for the shopping center was issued in 2009 and the new project aims to correct the old technical design.

When asked why the mall construction project stalled more than a decade ago, Andrius Grigaras, director of Dakus, notes that the company has been developing the project steadily since the land acquisition and does not comment on the decisions and reasons of other developers. It is true that he is also the head of the Olinda company, which previously planned to build a shopping center here.

Preparatory construction work began in July and the mall is scheduled to be completed and open to visitors in 2022. at the end of the first quarter. According to A. Grigaras, the challenges posed by the pandemic to the construction sector will not hamper construction works, construction works are currently proceeding smoothly.

“Our chosen gene. The contractor has been preparing for the project for a long time and has been successfully tackling the challenges posed by the pandemic for the time being, and plans to get the job done on time or even earlier if the natural conditions are favorable, especially this winter. ” He says.

What will the mall look like?

The main tenants are already known: the Maxima commercial chain, which will be located about 7,000 square meters. m of premises, and the “Hermitage” network of construction and finishing materials, whose area together with the “Entry – purchase” area will reach 13,400 m2. meter. Other companies offering various services and goods will go hand in hand.

Ample above-ground parking lots and a multi-story car warehouse are planned next to the shopping center, which will have capacity for more than 600 vehicles in total.

“Our aim is to form an offering of goods and services that is attractive and convenient for a modern person who saves time and is in a hurry. The architecture of the building was dictated by the area’s natural rising terrain: the main tenants are located on two floors, but their facades are on opposite sides of the building and the Maxima and Hermitage stores can be accessed directly from the car parks adjoining the building. . A. Grigaras points out.

Corte, 2019 Project proposals published in 2006 state that the commercial building will consist of three floors, with a sports club on the top floor. It is also written here that the building will employ about 277 people in two shifts, the total number of people served will be about 1,250.

The chosen location of the shopping center is Pašilaičiai, next to the intensive Western Bypass, but the manager of Dakus assures that it does not only focus on the residents of the adjacent neighborhoods: “We are convinced that the carefully and conveniently thought and designed transport solutions of shopping for everyone traveling on the Western Bypass, both Vilnius residents and city guests “

It is reported that a total of 32 thousand. kv. It is planned to invest 35 million. EUR. According to the interlocutor, most of the investment will go to the construction of a shopping center, but an important part of the investment will go to the installation of new transport infrastructure and improvement of the existing one, which will be transferred to Vilnius in a free.

“To access the Western Bypass, driving towards Ukmergės street, a car viaduct will be built, surrounding streets and traffic lights will be rebuilt to optimize traffic and increase traffic,” says A. Grigaras.

He adds that there will be a strong focus on afforestation solutions: “Priority is given to native tree and shrub species, promoting biodiversity; A vegetation buffer zone was designed for the Western Bypass. We also work with the city council and the local community to develop the project.

We are happy to have found a solution that will enrich the Pašilaičiai district with green spaces: the land next to the developing shopping center will be transferred free of charge to the municipality, which will adapt this space to the needs of the residents ”.

The pandemic did not interrupt construction plans.

Delphi He has already written that last year due to the pandemic, investor interest in commercial real estate cooled – projects for the construction of new offices, shopping centers and hotels. Although the developers of the supermarket projects have not been canceled, no new construction is planned. It is true that the implementation of a project stalled.

One of the main examples of what delayed the construction of the shopping center last year is the Akropolis Group. In Vilnius, next to the Vingis Park, the company plans to build a multifunctional culture, leisure, business and shopping center “Akropolis Vingis”. Construction works were scheduled to begin in the second half of this year, but plans have changed due to the pandemic.

According to the developer of the new shopping center in Pašilaičiai, the pandemic did not alter the construction plans.

“The implementation of a project for an object of this size is a long and meticulous process, which starts from the concept, approval of the main tenant contracts and ends with obtaining financing and the planning and execution of the construction process. It was so coincidental that the global pandemic has struck right now, but we believe the pandemic is a temporary disruption that the world will soon manage and work together and people’s habits will revert to their former ways.

On the other hand, we do not focus on providing a very wide range of specific services or entertainment, as a different concept was envisioned from the beginning of the project development. The accent is not a leisure edition, but the most essential and basic everyday goods and services, in one place and conveniently, ”says A. Grigaras.

According to real estate experts, one of the main factors that currently does not start construction of new commercial properties is bank financing. However, the head of Dakus assures that there were no problems here either: “We have a reliable long-term partner – Luminor Bank, with whom we have been working on the implementation of this project for some time. Our partner, like us, has no doubts about the success of this project, so we had no difficulty in obtaining the necessary financing ”.

Expect the population’s habits of visiting supermarkets to return

According to experts, managers of supermarkets abroad are now very tense, because people will not visit and return to supermarkets due to the pandemic, in the future there will only be one clear trend: stores will move to email. Commerce. A lot of work is needed to attract residents to the malls. Therefore, the developers of new projects will change the concept of shopping centers – there will be more places for leisure and entertainment.

The representative of the shopping center located in Pašilaičiai assures that it will not follow such trends. On the contrary, from the very beginning of the project development, it has not focused on providing a very wide range of specific services or entertainment.

“Our shopping center is primarily focused on quick and convenient shopping. Above all, we want to meet the needs of young families who save time and want to find the widest possible range of basic goods and services for everyday use in one place.

The change in habits of the population as a result of the pandemic, we should return to normal after overcoming the challenges and ending the restrictions over time. No matter how convenient, fast and secure online shopping is, physical shopping has its own advantages, and people’s habit of buying live, “groping” goods and services is not very quick or easy to change “, A. Grigaras points out.

Delphi remember that a week ago the financing of another Vilnius Outlet shopping center under construction was announced. Near the western ring road of Vilnius, 62 thousand. Bank Luminor and Šiaulių bankas loaned LTL 44 million for a square meter shopping center. euros.