Tbilisi City Hall started talking about the reconstruction of “Turtle Lake” for the first time two years ago.
“None of us liked what had happened in previous years – the deliberate destruction of recreational spaces, sports fields which were then used for construction purposes. Before the elections, we promised the residents of the capital that we would not allow the implementation of constructions at the expense of recreational spaces and sports fields, an act which is categorically unacceptable. We have to do more to make our city even greener,” said the mayor of Tbilisi on April 28, 2021, at the municipality meeting.
The owners of Turtle Lake applied to Tbilisi City Hall’s Transport and Urban Development Agency with a proposal for the development of the territory. The plan for the renovation of Turtle Lake and its surrounding area has been in progress for ten months.
The area had been developing chaotically since 1990. There are both private and municipally owned territories on the site. It is clear from the document that the central square, where the parking area is currently located, will be completely freed up and replaced by underground parking. The old parking lot will be then be transformed into a pedestrian space. An underground food facility is also planned.
Two one-story cafe-pavilions are planned to go on top of the arched building on the main square of Turtle Lake, seeing the removal of the existing cafes and restaurants in the vicinity of the lake, in order to improve the visibility and beauty.
In the current situation, a transport zone, recreation zone and forest zone are being developed on the territory. The investor does not request major changes in this regard with the presented plan, and a small part of the territory will be given the status of recreation zone instead of transport zone.
There is also a plan to restore the restaurant that existed there until the 1990s, which is not functioning today.
The area of “Turtle Lake” will be divided into 4 parts. One of them will be a quiet zone, another will have a recreation complex, where there will be spa procedures, an open pool, a detox cafe and a beach. It is also planned to develop an entertainment space, where there will be sports fields, a skate park and children’s spaces.
The proposal for the reconstruction/renovation of Turtle Lake is currently in the planning-assignment stage, which will be followed by the development and approval of the development regulation plan. The final decision on the project should be made by the Tbilisi City Council.
By Mariam Gorkhelashvili
