Chairman of the Committee for Architecture and Construction of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee: "We are building more and better"
At one time, I was struck by the statements of the poet Andrei Voznesensky about his teacher at the Institute of Architecture. The teacher said: to start working on a project, you need to divide the globe into squares and fit the future building into it. And Alexander Alexandrovich began our conversation with a similar thought:
– We are located in the center of Europe, and our architecture must correspond to our geopolitical position. In recent years, the settlements of the Vitebsk region have been significantly transformed. This is noted by everyone who visits our region, but the main thing is the assessment of the local residents. After all, everything that is done in the construction industry is aimed at creating comfortable living conditions. Special attention is paid to the social sphere. The investment program for the development of the region is aimed at the construction of socially significant facilities: schools, kindergartens, polyclinics, hospitals, etc. Much has been done in this regard within the framework of preparation for the regional festivals-fairs of agricultural workers "Dazhynki". For example, over the last three years alone, kindergartens, a school, and a hospital in Dubrovno have been put in order. In Verkhnedvinsk, in addition to modernizing existing buildings, engineering and transport infrastructure, a residential building and a sports and recreation center have been built. Braslav has acquired a decent European appearance. The Head of State has instructed to put in order two small settlements every year. The improvement of Kopys in the Orsha region received a high assessment from the President of Belarus. Bolbasovo and Ezerishche have acquired a modern look. The accumulation of resources allows for significant transformation of settlements. Residents are satisfied, guests note the renovations.
– Since you have already started talking about a three-year period, let's take it as a basis. It is probably difficult to list all the social facilities built during this time; please name the main ones, the most significant for the residents of the region.
– It is more convenient to do this by years. In 2017, a kindergarten for 200 places was built in Glubokoye, consisting of medical, food, and aesthetic blocks, and a sports and health complex with a swimming pool. A three-story nursery-kindergarten with a swimming pool, a gym, music rooms, and playgrounds was erected in Orsha in the young microdistrict Zadneprovye-5. In Ushachi, a sports and health complex unique in its functional purpose and completeness was opened, where international competitions are already being held. Landmark facilities of 2018 include: the central district hospital in Miory and the therapeutic building of the Semashko Orsha City Hospital in Orsha, a kindergarten in the Bilevo microdistrict of the regional center, and the reconstruction of the ice palace of the hockey club "Khimik" in Novopolotsk. This year, a polyclinic in the Yug-7 microdistrict and a specialized trampoline center were built in Vitebsk, and an indoor ice training ground in Novopolotsk.
– Housing is probably of no less, and perhaps even greater interest to people.
– The construction of residential buildings is an important component of the work of the region's construction complex. Bank funds and citizens' funds are involved here. A special topic is social housing, in which the People's Republic of China provided significant support. Thus, with the assistance of the PRC, houses were built in Vitebsk and Orsha in 2017, and in 2018 – four houses in the regional center, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Lepel. Six more are planned, including in Orsha, Tolochin, and Dokshitsy.
Significant funds are allocated from the regional budget (last year it was 9 million rubles) for the construction of apartments for orphans, large families, and other categories of citizens entitled to preferential housing.
Apartments are also needed for labor migrants and specialists that enterprises are interested in. Previously, such housing was called service housing, now it is commercial housing, provided for the duration of employment. Next year, it is planned to build almost twice as much social and commercial housing.
Speaking generally about housing construction, it can be noted that the sector is slightly overfulfilling its plan. Last year, with a target of 299 thousand sq. m, 300 thousand were completed; this year, 325 thousand; and for next year, we expect 335 thousand. The construction of residential buildings provides work for our construction complex enterprises, primarily large ones such as DSK, Vitebsk Trust No. 9, Orsha No. 18, and Novopolotsk No. 16.
The 9th quarter in Bilevo is currently being actively developed, which we internally refer to as a Komsomol construction project. About ten houses are being built simultaneously – an entire microdistrict from scratch.
– To what extent is the demand for housing from the region's residents being met? How much needs to be built so that people do not wait years for their turn to get an apartment?
– Ten years ago, I heard and will never forget the statement from specialists: for a country to develop, one square meter per person must be commissioned annually. We are building 0.5 sq. m. In recent years, there have been no queues of people wishing to obtain a new apartment with their own funds. In some districts, more is even being built. Apartments allocated for social housing are being occupied, but not all others are immediately purchased. Some prefer to buy housing on the secondary market, where it is cheaper. Therefore, we propose to adjust state support to reduce the cost of new apartments for citizens. The issue of allowing large families to use maternity capital to cover the difference in housing costs is also being considered. Changes in this regard will be made in the near future. Housing is in demand. There are 66.5 thousand people on the waiting list in the region. Taking the average apartment area of 66 square meters, it turns out that we need to build three times more – not 300, but 900 sq. m.
– I think many are interested in the direction housing construction will take in the regional center.
– The potential of Vitebsk's construction complex is significant. The Housing Construction Combine alone, with its capacity, can build 140 thousand square meters per year, not counting other organizations. It needs space. In the near future (late 2020 – early 2021), Vitebsk will expand towards Luchosa and Tarnoye – the territory behind the "Korona" shopping center. In this direction, there are not fully utilized kindergartens and schools; they will initially solve the problem of social construction, which is also planned here. In the city center, the largest development area is the area of Truda Street, where six more residential buildings will be erected.
– Is cottage construction in demand?
– I think it has great prospects. The problem today is the price. It is still expensive, and people get involved in construction for years. Now, the task is to reduce the cost of projects and technologies. We are orienting enterprises towards this, which could master this market and offer quickly erected inexpensive studio apartments. If the cost of such housing is around 500 rubles per square meter, then there will be many more people willing to have their own home.
– At one time, so-called "presidential houses" were built in rural areas; is housing being built under a state program now?
– The program was good. It solved the problem of retaining staff in rural areas. Now there is no need to build entire streets in settlements, but houses for specialists are being built using allocated loan funds in this direction.
– In the Vitebsk region, the first house in the republic has been built in Liozno, where electricity is used exclusively for heating apartments, heating water, and cooking. Will there be more such houses?
– With the introduction of the nuclear power plant, there will be enough electricity in the country. For now, the house in Liozno is the only experimental one. We are studying what the optimal tariff should be, economically beneficial for energy companies and acceptable for residents. Building such houses is more profitable. Fewer networks need to be laid to the construction site, and there is no need to install a heating system at all. A similar 60-apartment building in Tulovo will be commissioned by the end of the year. In 2020, we plan to build two more houses: in Polotsk and Domzheritsy.
– How are construction companies doing? There were rumors that some are on the verge of bankruptcy…
– The construction industry has seen its ups and downs. Over the years, conditions, technologies, and citizen preferences change. Today, the culture of construction has significantly improved. It's far from perfect, but nevertheless, builders have started to build better. Requirements for the quality of work have also increased, as people partially invest their own funds and want to receive a solid service.
Unfortunately, over the past 10 years, the construction complex has lost many specialists; their numbers have halved. But, on the other hand, this situation has also played a positive role – modern technologies have begun to be used, replacing manual labor and not requiring a large number of workers. It cannot be denied that many enterprises experienced a downturn, but today the situation is changing for the better. Let me give you some figures. In 2018, DSK employed 1475 people, and losses amounted to 191 thousand rubles; this year, 1567 people are employed, and the enterprise has a profit of over 3 million rubles. Treyst №9 increased its workforce by 40 people, turning from a loss-making enterprise into a profitable one; a similar situation exists in other construction organizations. By the way, the average salary in the industry is higher than the regional average.
– Name the main current construction projects.
– Next year, "Dazhynki" will be held in Vitebsk. Vital construction projects for the regional center today include the "Polotsky" overpass, a school in Bilevo, and a new road that will connect Stroiteley Avenue with Korotkevich Street. I believe all these facilities will be completed by the holiday.
– And a postscript – long-term construction projects. Are there any?
– The Head of State, at last year's meeting, instructed to complete long-term construction projects that have been funded by people. We do not have a single such problematic building. There was only one, but after changing the contractor, it has already been commissioned. Another residential building on Chernyakhovsky Avenue is being constructed without the involvement of citizen funds, but it is also planned to be completed this year. This, one might say, is a matter of honor. However, there are long-term construction projects in Vitebsk and other cities. They belong to private structures that cannot complete the construction of facilities, citing the economic situation. We do not have the right to take them away, but the situation is also changing here – new owners are appearing, investors are being found. We do not leave such long-term construction projects unattended, as they also affect the appearance of settlements and should not spoil it.