Opponents fear billion-rouble scheme to “preserve and
redevelop” central St Petersburg
Conservationists and planning experts say $2.8bn pilot
projects are a threat to historical character of the heart of the city
By Sophia Kishkovsky. Web only
Published online: 26 December 2012
Conservationists who fought attempts by Gazprom, the
State-controlled gas giant, to build a skyscraper opposite the Smolny Convent
complex in the centre of St Petersburg are now facing another threat to the
city’s architectural heritage—government plans to redevelop two historic
districts in the city centre.
A resolution passed by the city legislature, signed by the
St Petersburg governor Georgy Poltavchenko in November, singles out the
neighbourhoods of Konyushennaya and North Kolomna-New Holland for “preservation
and development” as part of a “special purpose programme” that is due to start
this year and be completed by 2018. The city says that the cost of the
redevelopment will be $2.8bn, with $2.2bn coming from the municipal budget and
$579m from private investors. Poltavchenko said last summer that overhauling
the entire city centre would cost an estimated $129.5bn.
The project is meant to serve as a pilot for the rest of
the historical centre of St Petersburg State Russian
Museum Holland
City officials say the redevelopment will preserve historic
buildings (if necessary by rebuilding them). They also want to rehouse people
living in communal apartments, which are a throwback to the Soviet era, and
create new pedestrian zones.
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