The Vitebsk City Executive Committee has put forward a draft of a new residential area for discussion

The Vitebsk City Executive Committee has submitted a development project for the central part of the city in the area of Truda Street for public discussion. There has long been increased interest in this area, so the authorities will have to show considerable flexibility and willingness to compromise. In other words, they will have to prove in practice their readiness to create not only convenient offices but also a comfortable urban environment that will make the center attractive to investors and even demanding residents.

A presentation of the detailed plan for the public and residential development of the microdistrict took place on July 16 at the State Enterprise “Capital Construction of the City of Vitebsk”, which is the project client. The site is located within the boundaries of Dovator Street, Razina Street, Truda Street, and Lyudnikova Avenue. Judging by the main technical and economic indicators, on an area of almost 5 hectares, it is planned to double the housing stock by building 760 apartments, as a result of which the microdistrict's population will be 4,000 people, including about 1,300 new residents. According to the chief architect of OJSC “Vitebskgrazhdanproekt Institute” (the general designer of the development), Alexander Zafataev, the construction of residential buildings from 5 to 18 floors is envisaged here, one social service facility (currently, it is about a school with a primary school block, but possibly, based on the results of the discussion, it will be supplemented by a kindergarten). The detailed plan involves solving transport problems, in particular, relieving congestion at the intersection of Lyudnikova Avenue and Frunze Street by building an extension of Bauman Street with an exit to Lyudnikova Avenue. At this stage of design, among the public facilities, the construction of a large shopping center, retail and office spaces, a sports and tourism complex, a hotel, a pharmacy, a driving range and a shooting range, as well as two-level parking lots are envisaged. Among the announced buildings, the Palace of Water Sports, which is so necessary, according to the authorities, for the city, stands out. Alexander Zafataev does not isключил, что здесь может быть размещен и аквапарк, поиски инвестора для строительства которого уже велись и даже чуть было не увенчались успехом. По его словам, когда земля определена под конкретную функцию, искать инвестора значительно легче. От него и будет в итоге зависеть, какой объект появится на этом месте.

В связи с переосмыслением городскими властями перспективы развития этой территории попадают под снос несколько жилых домов, в основном усадебного типа, и коттеджи. Как отметил Александр Зафатаев, каждому собственнику будет выплачиваться компенсация за снос жилья либо предлагаться вариант предоставления квартиры в этом же микрорайоне или жилья в другом месте.

Как сообщила заместитель директора КУП «Капитальное строительство города Витебска» Татьяна Хохлова, по предварительным данным, проект планируется реализовать в два этапа до 2021 года, первый из них рассчитан до 2017-го и предусматривает возведение жилья и дороги по ул. Баумана. «Жилые дома предполагаются к строительству как коммерческое жилье», – отметила она. По словам главного архитектора Витебска Виталия Дубика, освоение этой территории идет в соответствии с генеральным планом развития города. Кроме возведения объектов различного назначения и создания новых транспортных связей, в перспективном районе будет выполнен большой объем работ по благоустройству в парковой зоне, примыкающей к академии ветеринарной медицины, с выходом на Витьбу и мемориальный комплекс. «Мы получим красивый, комфортный район в центре Витебска», – убежден Виталий Дубик.

During the discussion of the project implementation details, Vitebsk residents attending the presentation, who already live in this area, focused on the feasibility of increasing residential density, raised the issue of the need to build a kindergarten in the microdistrict, and also expressed claims regarding the proposed scheme for organizing traffic flows and access roads. Representatives of the customer and designers promised to take into account some of the proposals received in the future. However, regarding the density increase, the standards are fully met. Moreover, if according to the legislation for areas with high-rise buildings, a building density of 9 thousand square meters of total area per 1 hectare is provided, then in the designed area, this indicator is 5.5 thousand square meters per hectare.

The public discussion of the urban development project will continue until August 7. Then it will be sent for environmental and interdepartmental expertise, after which it will be approved. Possibly, already in September-October, the next stage will begin – the development of the construction project, predicted Tatiana Khokhlova.

Sergey Antonov, "Vitebskiye vesti"