1. Cultural Diversity: Vilnius has a rich tapestry of cultural influences, stemming from its history of being a crossroads for various civilizations. The city is home to a mix of architectural styles, from Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque and Soviet-era structures, reflecting its diverse past. 2. UNESCO World Heritage Site: The historic center of Vilnius is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its well-preserved medieval architecture and unique city layout. Many visitors may not know that it has one of the largest preserved medieval old towns in Europe. 3. The Hill of Three Crosses: This iconic landmark, located on a hill overlooking the city, is not just a beautiful viewpoint but also carries a significant historical narrative. The crosses commemorate Franciscan monks who were executed in the 17th century, and the site has become a symbol of resistance and faith for the people of Vilnius.

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has experienced significant growth in its housing market in recent years. In 2023, developers built 4,915 apartments for sale in Vilnius, an 18% increase from 2022. This marks one of the highest figures in the last two decades, second only to 2007, 2008, and 2020 when over 5,000 apartments were built for sale. The rental market in Vilnius is expanding rapidly, with professionally managed rental units increasing to 2,100 in 2023. Two new rental projects added almost 800 units to the market that year. While specific figures for total housing units in Vilnius are not provided, Lithuania as a whole has a high rate of homeownership. As of 2023, 88.8% of Lithuanians owned their homes, while 11.2% rented. However, experts predict this ratio may shift in the coming years due to rising real estate prices and the developing rental market. Recent data on median prices per square meter for renting or buying in Vilnius is not available in the search results. However, as of July 2024, the average rental price in Vilnius was 14.87 euros per square meter per month. Social housing plays a small but growing role in Vilnius. In 2004, social housing accounted for 2.4% of the total housing stock in Lithuania, with plans to increase this to 3% by 2010. More recent figures are not provided in the search results.

The Vilnius city administration is actively addressing housing challenges through various initiatives. The "Let's Renew the City" program, established in 2007 and transferred to the Vilnius City Municipality Administration in 2019, serves as a competence center for developing sustainable living environments. It focuses on educating residents about multi-apartment renovations, administering renovation projects, and developing support programs to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. The city is grappling with urbanization challenges, as the densely populated center limits new housing development where it's most needed. To address this, Vilnius is working on guidelines to establish a platform for sustainable housing growth, collaborating with municipal institutions to identify potential development sites, and exploring ways to make affordable housing financially viable. Vilnius is also promoting the use of eco-friendly materials in construction projects. New regulations require public buildings to be constructed with at least 50% wood and organic materials starting from November 2024. The city is investing in green building projects, such as the Launagiai district development, which aims to create thousands of new homes designed with sustainability in mind. Additionally, Vilnius is participating in a €100 million initiative with the European Investment Bank to renovate over 700 apartment buildings, focusing on improving energy efficiency and sustainability in housing.

Housing cooperatives play a limited role in Vilnius, Lithuania, as the country lacks a comprehensive housing policy. However, there are efforts to promote more affordable and sustainable housing models in the city. In Vilnius, a non-profit initiative called "Ethical housing Vilnius" aims to create a scalable model of housing development that is affordable, socially inclusive, and eco-friendly. This group of architects, urban planners, and sociologists is working to establish a platform for participatory design, collaborating with municipal institutions to identify potential development sites, and exploring ways to make the model financially viable. The initiative draws inspiration from successful cooperative housing practices in other European countries, such as Baugruppen in Germany, Community Land Trusts in the UK, and Staad in the Maak in the Netherlands. While specific cooperative lighthouse projects in Vilnius are not mentioned in the search results, there are efforts to develop innovative housing solutions. The city of Vilnius, like other parts of Lithuania, faces challenges in providing affordable housing. The government has introduced some measures to support housing access, such as housing benefits for low-income households and programs to help young families purchase their first home. However, there is still a need for more comprehensive policies to promote cooperative and affordable housing models in the city.