Ziepniekkalns – a neighborhood of the city of Riga in the suburb of Zemgale.

History and importance in Riga

Ziepniekalns is located in the southern part of Pārdaugava. It was created on the land of the former Bišumuiža, Ēbelmuiža, Foka, Jaunas Grāves manors, Nummurmuiža and Reimermuiža. On the other hand, in Bišumuiža ditch, Zaļeniek, Celtnieku and Skaistkalnes streets, a district of low dunes – Ziepniekkalns kapas – was formed. Ēbelmuiža park is located in the center of Ziepniekkalns. The residential building of the Ēbela manor (21 Zaļenieku street) has also been preserved here. Over time, Ēbela manor became a popular place for the wealthiest and most notable vacationers of Riga landlords. Not far from the Ēbelmuiža park, there is the Ziepniekkalna cemetery, established in 1871 (Mālu iela 19). The western edge of Ziepniekkalns coincides with Vienības gatvi (up to the intersection with K. Ulmaņa gatvi). Until 1935, it was called the Jelgava highway (created in the 19th century, when a new straightened route was laid within the city limits for the old postal road that ran from the borders of Germany through Jelgava and Riga to St. Petersburg). Another ancient trade route passed through the territory of Ziepniekkalns – from Riga to Lithuania (now Bauskas Street).

Territory and construction

The largest area is occupied by residential areas – 27.3% or 162.1 ha, which are typical for both the SW part of the neighborhood, where the residential micro-district is located, as well as the NW and central part, where multi-storey residential buildings are slightly older. A considerable area in Ziepniekalns is also occupied by mixed built-up areas. They are mainly located along the main streets of the neighborhood, especially on the A side along Ziepniekkalnas Street, where active commercial activity is typical. A relatively significant area in Ziepniekalns is occupied by roads and street tracks, which can be explained by the fact that in the future it is planned to improve the local street network in the S and SE parts of the neighborhood, where it is currently absent or poorly developed. In addition, the construction of the 3rd phase of the Dienudi tilta route with several new connections to the main street network of the neighborhood has been carried out along the D border of Ziepniekkalna. Near-term plans include the construction of the ambitious project “Dienvidu magistrales 4th phase (Ziepniekalna street-Vienības gatve)”. In 2017, a construction project was developed for the construction of the bicycle path “Centrs – Ziepniekalns”. In the last 20 years, developers have often chosen Ziepniekalna for the implementation of their new projects:

• Southern Horseshoe,
• Southern Horseshoe 2,
• Ebelmuiža,
• Bee farm

With the new projects, the surroundings of Vienības Gatve, Kaplavas iela, Kometas iela and Putnu iela are actively built up.

Infrastructure

Transportation:

• Bus: 10, 23, 26, 40, 44, 46, 56, 60
• Trolleybus: 19, 27
• Tram: 10
• Minibus: 233
• Night bus: N10

Education:

• Riga preschool educational institution “Vadakstīte”
• Riga Ziepniekkalns primary school
• Riga Ziepniekkalns primary school
• Riga 47th secondary school
• Riga Ziepniekkalns Secondary School

Shops:

• Shopping center “Aleja”
• Mego, Store
• Maxim X
• a “Lidl” store is being built