Konik and Vrela Ribnička

Konik and Vrela Ribnička are two neighbourhoods of Podgorica. These two neighbourhoods are considered as one, so it isn't surprising why Vrela Ribnička is mostly referred to as "Konik".

Konik

Konik is almost entirely lowrise. It is known as the home to Podgorica's Roma minority, and has an image of underdeveloped part of town. It has poor infrastructure, compared to other parts of the city.

Vrela Ribnička

Vrela Ribnička is an extension of Konik to the south-east. Is is the poorest neighborhood of Podgorica, moderatly consisting of Roma population, and refugees from Yugoslav wars, as well as Caucasian locals. It is mostly a lowrise residential area, with very poor infrastrucure. Most of the neighborhood has an appearance of a slum town. On its southeastern tip, it has a real refugee camp (which is more like a shanty town than a camp), a garbage dump and many garbage processing facilities. Vrela Ribnička contains one of the most notable auto-mechanics in Montenegro, Fratini, which is owned and operated by Naser Toskić.

Vrela Ribnička, however, is now a site of Podgorica's many construction booms. One of the largest projects in Vrela Ribnička in 2007 was the reconstruction of the "Spanish Warriors Street" ("Ulica Španskih boraca"), of which saw a new sidewalk put in place in both directions and new asphalt put in place. The project has been in full motion for four months, from June to September. This project, however, was scheduled to be finished by 20 August, but by that date, the project was only 3/4 finished. The citizens of Vrela Ribnička are hoping that this project finishes as soon as possible, as it has caused a drop in profits on local businesses on that street and more traffic on the much smaller "Hegumen Street" ("Ulica Igumanska").

Another project taking place in Vrela Ribnička is the expansion of the Božidar Vuković Podgoričanin Elementary School ("Osnovna škola Božidara Vukovića Podgoričanina") to enrole children from the ages of 5-7, as per a new law allowing children to be enrolled at the age of 5. Prior to the expansion, the school only enrolled children from the ages of 7-14.

Another project that will be taking place in Vrela Ribnička will be the construction of a few apartment buildings for the Roma refugees, who are mainly from Kosovo. However, this project has been facing heavy criticism of the locals, as this might lower their property value and lower their neighbourhood's reputation, even though it already has a bad reputation for being home to Podgorica's Roma minority and for raising one of the most dangerous kids in Podgorica.