The Municipal Development Fund has launched a market study for the development of a new “government city” on Arsenali Hill, where 282,750 square meters of office and administrative buildings are planned. Among them, the largest will be the new Tbilisi City Hall, while a 31,350-square-meter building is planned for Parliament.
According to Merab Bolkvadze, author of Tbilisi’s master plan, the idea of placing a government city on Arsenali Hill was not included in the city’s General Land Use Plan. While the current zoning does not explicitly prohibit such development, Bolkvadze warns that it carries significant risks and would require strong justification.
“The government city was not envisioned in the General Land Use Plan. A change can be made, but it must be clearly and solidly substantiated. Spatial planning is not about deciding first and then asking for sketches — the priority is selecting the right territory. Urban planning begins with determining what should be placed where,” Bolkvadze told BMG.
He added that for large-scale projects, a careful analysis of potential locations is crucial. The Krtsanisi government city concept, once fully drafted and approved, was later shelved. Arsenali Hill, he notes, also has transport and accessibility challenges that must be taken into account before proceeding.
