Two microdistricts are being designed for the southwestern part of Vitebsk
The new residential area Luchesa will occupy an area of 230 hectares on the exit towards Minsk. Its main framework will be formed by Beshenkovichskoye Highway – Zelenogurskaya, Novoluchevskaya, as well as five prospective and as yet unnamed streets. Another newcomer will be located at the intersection of M. Gorky and Vorovskogo streets on six hectares. Moreover, this quarter is included in the regional plan for housing construction using electrical energy for heating, hot water supply, and cooking, and will be the first experience of building electric houses in the regional center, as specified by Igor Kadushko, head of the architecture and urban planning department of the city executive committee. The project is currently undergoing public discussion.
In addition, information about the possible prospects for another site in this part of the city was announced recently. This concerns the territory of the former furniture factory. Previously, the plot was designated for residential development, and the project for a complex of high-rise buildings underwent public discussion. At a recent meeting with the staff of the Vitebsk Tractor Spare Parts Plant, the chairman of the city executive committee, Vadim Zaryankin, recalled that Smolensk investors had applied for this site for the construction of commercial housing. However, it seems that the matter did not progress beyond discussing the terms of cooperation and the need to create social infrastructure. According to the editorial office, the possibility of adjusting the city's master plan, which provides for a change in the functional purpose of this territory from residential to industrial, is being worked out.
Yards without cars and "Luchesa" Park
The detailed plan for the Luchesa residential area was developed by UP "BelNIIPgradostroitelstva". According to Daria Moroz, the chief architect of the project, the development is planned to be carried out in two stages: by 2025 on an area of 97.5 hectares, with the remaining territory to be developed by 2035. The area is practically free of buildings, with only private houses along the railway, which are proposed to be preserved with the subsequent possibility of demolition or transformation. The construction of an overpass is also envisaged to connect the new residential area with the Tarny microdistrict located across the railway.
The attractiveness of the microdistrict will be created by architectural solutions for specific objects, developed social infrastructure, and a comfortable environment, believes Yuri Vyzhikovsky, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Committee for Architecture and Construction. In particular, the possibility of creating car-free courtyards is being considered for this microdistrict. This will distinguish it from, for example, Bilevo. GP "Vitebsk DSK" is developing new building sections with through entrances, which allow access to parking or courtyards, to minimize the intersection of transport and people, added Yuri Vyzhikovsky.
In the first stage, it is proposed to build multi-apartment buildings of increased height of mixed type (10-16 floors) along Beshenkovichskoye Highway – Zelenogurskaya and Novolucheskaya streets, providing for the possibility of creating public facilities of various purposes on the ground floors. Within the residential area, it is proposed to create accompanying infrastructure, in particular, a school for 1060 places, two kindergartens, a sports complex, and a new park of city-wide importance "Luchesa". Additionally, public-administrative buildings, multifunctional complexes, and catering facilities will appear along the perimeter of the district.
The second stage will continue the construction of multi-story buildings along main streets, while residential buildings of 6 to 9 floors will be located within the district. Social infrastructure (two schools, three kindergartens, an art school, a polyclinic, a sports complex, retail and service facilities, etc.) will be built in parallel.
The total area of the microdistrict's housing stock by 2035 should exceed 413 thousand sq. m (7 thousand apartments), which will house about 20.7 thousand people. Landscaping and the construction of public areas (a park, public gardens will occupy about 18 hectares) are planned. The industrial zone in the southern and southwestern part of the designed district will include both existing enterprises and new industrial and business developments, including car service enterprises, transport facilities, and utility and warehouse facilities.
Electric Houses on the Outskirts
A new block of "electric" multi-story buildings in the area of M. Gorky Street will occupy more than 6 hectares. According to Dmitry Vaskovich, the chief architect of the Novopolotsk branch of UP "Institute Vitebskgrazhdanproekt," three 10-story buildings based on the large-panel series of the Vitebsk House-Building Combine will be built here, as well as two 11-story brick buildings, including one with a variable height section of 10-11 floors. By 2025, over 1.3 thousand people will live here, and the total housing stock area will be 37 thousand sq. m (624 apartments). For sustainable energy supply of the buildings, three transformer substations of a certain capacity will be located in the block, and there will be no need to lay heating networks.
Social and service infrastructure will be developed considering pedestrian accessibility to existing facilities in adjacent urban areas. For example, since the preschool institutions in the nearby microdistricts are overcrowded, there are plans to build a kindergarten for 75 places. This solution will also help reduce the load on existing social facilities. A shop will also appear here. It is planned to organize parking spaces for cars in such a way as to maximally isolate courtyard spaces from traffic.
Among the problematic aspects of this territory that need to be addressed today are the demolition of existing buildings and ecology. There are four manor houses on the site. As Igor Kadushko assured, owners of residential properties subject to demolition will be provided with maximum assistance by both the administration of the Pervomaysky District and the units of the city executive committee in exercising the rights provided for by Decree No. 58 "On some measures to protect property rights when land plots are seized for state needs." In addition, the designed quarter borders several enterprises, including Vitebskdrev OJSC. To eliminate the impact of adverse factors on human health, projects have been developed to reduce sanitary protection zones to the boundaries of industrial facilities. By the way, the implementation of the planned measures will contribute to the overall improvement of the ecological situation in this part of the city.