Northern Bridge and Victory Square Reorganization. What else do architects propose for Vitebsk?
The proposed urban development program for Vitebsk provides for increasing the efficiency of the use of the city's existing land resources without expanding its borders. As reported by the chief architect of the project, Elena Demida, about 30% of the city's territory is not used and is proposed for development.
— The General Plan provides opportunities to implement absolutely any solutions that meet modern requirements and standards for a quality of life, — emphasized Elena Demida.
The most important urban planning document lays down solutions for greening, functional zoning of the territory, and the development of the city's transport corridors. The presented version of the general plan does not abandon the resonant project for the construction of the northern bridge crossing and provides for two options for its implementation. The priority option is to preserve the building of the Vitebsk Regional Museum of the Hero of the Soviet Union M.F. Shmyrev in its current location (it has the status of a historical and cultural value) and organize one-way traffic on Chekhov and Uritsky streets. The second option involves the relocation of the museum building (a site for this has been reserved south of its current location) and the organization of two-way traffic on Chekhov Street. However, with a reservation: this is possible only if there is an appropriate conclusion from the Belarusian Republican Scientific and Methodological Council on Historical and Cultural Heritage. The choice in favor of one of the options for the construction of the new bridge will be made at the stage of developing the detailed planning project, noted Elena Demida.
— The city is in great need of a bridge structure, but everything hinges on funding issues. The final decision on the project variant will subsequently be made taking into account the residents' opinions and other aspects, — explained Igor Kadushko, Head of the Architecture and Urban Planning Department of the City Executive Committee.
The development strategy of the city's planning structure also affects another resonant territory — Victory Square, which is proposed to be reorganized with the possibility of creating a public garden.
— The fact is that the largest square in Belarus is absolutely unorganized, it is uncomfortable to be there. We would like the square to be transformed. If a public garden appears there – that's great, other solutions are possible, including landscaping. Therefore, the General Plan draws attention to the need to definitely work with the square, but the specific decision remains with the detailed plan project, — explained Elena Demida.
In the territory of Vitebsk, 105 objects are included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus. The general plan project identifies another 77 buildings and structures of historical, architectural, and cultural interest, including the former Lyubavich Synagogue, the Tram Museum, and the Holy Assumption Church. After conducting additional research, they may also claim the status of historical and cultural value.
The revival of the ensemble of the central squares of the historical center of the city should be facilitated by the recreation of the former St. Anthony's Church. The general plan preserves the possibility of regenerating the development complex of Freedom Square, as the territory of the St. Nicholas Cathedral is currently unoccupied.
The complex of embankments along the Western Dvina will be further developed, including the creation of observation decks and descents to the water. In the memorial park on Titov Street, it is proposed to form a public specialized center for cultural and educational purposes.
The General Plan provides for the possibility of building a crematorium in the territory of a new burial site, as well as placing urn burial cemeteries after cremation.
New housing construction will be carried out both on new sites and by densifying existing multi-apartment housing. By 2035, the housing stock will increase by 30.7% and will amount to over 11.4 million sq. m.
The main areas for the development of new multi-apartment housing are: Bilevo (Moskovsky Ave.), Cheremushki (intersection of Moskovsky Ave. and Shosseynaya St.), Vasyuty (Starobabinovichsky Tract), Nikropolye (Petryus Brovki St.), Medtsentr (Pobedy Ave. – Chkalova St.), Tsentr (including the historical city center), Luchesa (Beshenkovichskoye Highway), Tarny (Zarechnaya St.), Markovshchina (M. Gorky St.), 5th Polk (Titova St.), Leningradsky (Leningradskaya St.), Gagarin (Gagarina St.), Tulovo (extension of Frunze Ave.), Ruba (70 Years of October St.).
Individual housing construction will be carried out on sites in Tulovo (Festivalnaya St.), Sokolniki (33rd Army St., Promyshlennaya St.), Shpili (Borovaya St.), Aksanovka and Boroniki (Aksanovska St.), Orekhovo (Yasnaya St.), Grishany (Selskaya St.), Bitelevo (Progonnaya St.), Verkhovye (Kristalnaya St.), Ruba Pravoberezhnaya (Ruba-2, Parkovaya St., Zavodskaya St.).
As for the industrial zone, the General Plan provides for the inventory and regulation of sites in industrial zones and districts, as well as in scattered production and utility areas. It is planned to relocate more than 60 production and utility sites, as well as vehicle storage and maintenance areas. This will help identify inefficiently used land resources and determine development reserves.
Among the innovations is the construction of fire stations in the areas of Gagarin St., Shumilinskaya St., 39th Army St., Petryus Brovki St., 33rd Army St., Verkhovskaya St., as well as in the Luchesa microdistrict.
The General Plan proposes the creation of green spaces in various areas of Vitebsk with a total area of 507.3 hectares, including over 156 hectares of parks and public gardens. Taking this into account, public green spaces will occupy 1270.2 hectares, and their provision per person in the city will increase to 15 sq. m.
The public discussion of the project will last until December 27. After passing all approvals and expert reviews established by law, the general plan of Vitebsk is approved by the decree of the President of Belarus. According to the project developers, this may happen before the end of 2023.