In Vilnius an exemplary courtyard of old apartment buildings was presented: it was necessary to walk along the paths of the cross

“We have to admit that the process is really bureaucratic and hostile. The crossroads that must be done, first with the National Land Service, requesting the formation of a plot and then signing a lease, is difficult,” he told this Tuesday to the press the vice minister.

“We are discussing with the new government to make it easier for cities and their residents to manage the bureaucracy related to land problems.” … Step by step, we hope that over time we can narrow that process, “he added.

According to him, the plotting process takes about a year.

This is what V. Benkunskas has said, presenting one of the patios in the Sunrise neighborhood of the capital, arranged according to this program. There is a fenced parking lot, a rest area, a playground and a gazebo.

According to Erika Vilūnaitė-Stankevičienė, representative of the municipal institution “Let’s renew the city”, a total of two courtyards have been fixed, six more are planned to be completed this year and several dozen residents have obtained funds for their project.

According to the municipality, there are more than a thousand residents in the city, they have 934 ha of undeveloped common areas in the courtyards of the apartment buildings. Where there are no plots, the area is in charge of the municipality.

“An active resident just needs to start caring and participating. The first thing is to vote, the neighbors have to decide that they want to participate in the Neighborhood Program. If the neighborhood consists of several houses, agree with them or you can participate separately, forming a neighborhood for a particular house. After signing a contract with the municipality, a piece of land is formed and its lease is concluded. Design is continued, if necessary, or repair work, ”explained E. Vilūnaitė-Stankevičienė.

“It is enough for an active person in the house, he will receive all the necessary information from us,” he added.

The representative of the municipal institution also stressed that where the apartment building does not have a community, it will not be possible to rent the plot. First, you will need to create a community or join an existing one.

“We have such a difficult situation regarding the signing of a land lease; it can be signed by a company or individuals. If the management form of the house is a manager, we are faced with problems that the manager does not have. such powers in accordance with the law, ”said E. Vilūnaitė-Stankevičienė.

For those who want to tidy up their garden, financing is provided: 10-15 euros per square meter of renovated areas. If the value of the renovations exceeds the funding provided by the municipality, the difference must be covered by the members of the ward. Only blocks of flats over the age of 15 can participate in the program.

The courtyard improvement project is being prepared by the neighborhood itself and Let’s Renew the City is organizing the execution of the works through public procurement.

According to V. Benkunskas, the municipality has allocated half a million euros to this project every year, but the amount can be increased.

Residents of the apartment building will not have to pay rent for the nearby plot, but people will have to take care of the patio area on their own.

However, V. Benkunskas emphasized that this way of managing the parcel not only reduces the costs incurred by the municipality for the management of the territories, but also provides residents with “many advantages”.

“The territory is closed, it becomes the common property of all residents. (…) They have their own private territory where they can do their community programs, get together, barbecue in the summer, do all kinds of celebrations in the winter. Basically, cities are now being created on this principle, ”said the deputy mayor.

He also noted that the courtyards of apartment buildings can be arranged without renting a plot, but more than half of the houses in the neighborhood need to be renovated.