later occupied by marginal elements of society, mainly the homeless and prostitutes.
Until Lithuania's declaration of independence in 1990, it was one of the most
neglected areas in the city, containing many run-down houses, many without
utilities. The district has been a common haunt of artists and bohemians since
Soviet times, and even today many young artists are squatting in abandoned buildings near the Vilnia
River. 2013 saw the inauguration of two big art centers by the river and by the
gymnasium.
