He proposes to legalize it, and then name it
Artūras Zuokas, the leader of the opposition of the Vilnius City Municipal Council, shared information on his Facebook account that the opposition is making a proposal to preserve this square as a public space for the people of Vilnius and to name it as it is often called – after the writer R.Gary.
“So that the talk about the “protected” square on Basanavičiaus street does not remain only in words, and the public’s indignation only in posts on social networks, I appealed to the city mayor and the municipal administration to take steps provided for by law, which would actually turn this square into another public square in Vilnius, and at the same time be preserved greenery and the historical importance of this place.
Therefore, as an opposition, we are proposing to preserve the existing square as a public space for the people of Vilnius after completing the necessary legal procedures regarding the land and legalizing the supporting walls of the square on behalf of the city. We also suggest that the Vilnius Municipality prepare a project for the reconstruction of this square, which would preserve the greenery and clean up the environment.
I also applied to the Historical Memory Commission of the Vilnius City Municipality, that the square located in the Old Town district near J.Basanavičiaus St. 14A (which is already called Gary by Vilnius residents!), would be officially given the name of world-famous writer, pilot, diplomat and director Romain Gary,” A. Zuokas wrote.
According to the opinion of the opposition, as stated in their press release: “Such a status would not leave legal gaps in the future: events have shown that this square was saved only thanks to the public, because the Vilnius City Municipality itself coordinated project proposals, which not only allowed for the reconstruction of the building located on J.Basanavičiaus str. . 14A, but also to cut down the trees that did not grow above the building, but in the historically formed square.”
The events showed that this square was saved only thanks to the public, because the Vilnius municipality coordinated project proposals that not only allowed for the reconstruction of the building, but also for cutting down the trees.
Sculpture – since
In honor of one of the world’s most famous writers, R.Gary, who was born in Vilnius, in 2007 At the intersection of Mindaugas and J. Basanvičius streets, instead of the stone ball that was standing there, a new artistic accent was placed – a sculpture of a small boy with a big shoe in his hand, depicting the nine-year-old Romana Kacevas from Vilnius, the world-famous French writer under the pseudonym Romain Gary.
R. Gary was born on May 21, 1914 in Vilnius. Romuald Quint’s sculpture embodies the episode of the writer’s autobiographical novel “Aushras pozjas” when, in order to prove his love for Valentina from the same yard, little Roman decided to eat even a rubber shoe.
The writer said that when he was playing in the yard, his mother sometimes told him to go to the window and look up at her so that she could admire them. Therefore, in the sculpture in Vilnius, the boy has his head held high.
The sculpture of R. Kvinto embodies the episode of the writer’s autobiographical novel “Aushros pozjas” when, in order to prove his love for Valentina from the same yard, little Roman decided to eat even a rubber shoe.
A small and fragile figure of a boy is located next to the house where the future writer himself lived.
Many people stood up to defend
We remind you that the noise about this square arose in the middle of July, when it became clear that on Jonas Basanavičiaus Street in Vilnius, next to the monument dedicated to the writer Romain Gary, Dobilo Daigas company plans to expand the cafe and install skylights in the basement.
According to the project, it was planned to cut down nine trees on the terrace near the building complex of “Lietuvos Geležinkėliau”.
To the protest organized in the square then a large number of people gathered to express their disapproval for the plans of the Dobilo Daigas company to cut down nine old trees on the terrace above the cafe.
At the moment, the planned works have been suspended, the building owner company “Dobilo Daigas” announced that it is waiting for the results of the investigations by the Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Cultural Heritage.
And the members of the public have already presented the experts’ conclusions, in which they are it was established that in Vilnius, J.Basanavičius st. 14A, the trees in the square do not grow on the foundation or on the roof, but in the vegetation, in the soil, near the building.
The Vilnius City Municipality stated at the time that the most recent examination forms the basis “to suspect that the previous evaluation of the vegetation and the heritage examination may have been performed improperly, therefore the construction permit was issued based on inappropriate assumptions.”
VIDEO: “What do we need?” An old tree!”: hundreds of Vilnius residents gathered to protect the trees in J.Basanavičiaus street square
VIDEO: The people of Vilnius sided with the trees, and K. Sabaliauskaitė also spoke: “Do we want to go down in the history of the city as having destroyed most of the heritage?”
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**Interview with Artūras Zuokas: Proposing the Legalization and Naming of Romain Gary Square in Vilnius**
*Editor: Thank you for joining us, Mr. Zuokas. Recently, you’ve been vocal about legalizing and designating a square in Vilnius after the esteemed writer Romain Gary. Can you share your motivations behind this proposal?*
**Artūras Zuokas**: Thank you for having me. The motivation for this proposal stems from our commitment to preserving public spaces for the people of Vilnius. This particular square, located near J. Basanavičius Street, has historical significance and has already gained affection from locals who refer to it as ‘Gary.’ We want to ensure this square remains a green space for the community while honoring a notable figure from our history.
*Editor: You mentioned appealing to the city mayor and the municipal administration. What specific actions are you hoping they will take?*
**Zuokas**: We seek legal recognition for the square as a public space. This involves completing necessary legal procedures concerning land ownership and the supporting structures within the square. It’s crucial for the municipality to prepare plans for its reconstruction while maintaining its greenery, enhancing the area’s environment for all residents.
*Editor: There has been public unrest concerning plans to cut down trees in the area. Can you elaborate on why preserving the current state of this square is essential?*
**Zuokas**: Absolutely. Recent events showed that public outcry played a critical role in addressing the city’s proposals regarding this space. The plan to cut down trees, which are vital to the square’s character, highlighted the need for better preservation. We have public support backing this initiative, as citizens understand the cultural and environmental importance of maintaining such spaces.
*Editor: You’ve also reached out to the Historical Memory Commission about naming the square after Romain Gary. What significance does this hold for the community?*
**Zuokas**: Naming the square after Romain Gary transcends honor; it connects future generations to our literary heritage. Gary’s contributions as a writer and his roots in Vilnius matter. By giving this square his name, we are enriching our cultural landscape and acknowledging the historical ties that exist between our city and a globally recognized author.
*Editor: Lastly, recent protests have demonstrated strong community involvement in this issue. What role do you see the public playing moving forward?*
**Zuokas**: The public’s involvement is crucial. Their voices have shown our leaders that preserving such spaces is not just a bureaucratic task; it’s about community identity and values. I encourage residents to continue advocating for these green areas and participating in discussions about our city’s future. Their engagement is key to ensuring that decisions reflect the desires and needs of the community.
*Editor: Thank you, Mr. Zuokas, for sharing your insights on this important matter. We look forward to seeing how this proposal unfolds in Vilnius.*