New Moscow: Development Milestones

Another event of the Gorod Moscow Center for Urban Studies – a discussion session on the subject of New Moscow development – was held on November 11 at the ITAR TASS press center.  After the addition of these territories, it was necessary to work out a new development strategy consistent with the capital of Russia polycentric development principle.  The discussion session of the Gorod MCUS centered around the vectors of New Moscow prospective development.  Main subject included both, quality of life issues and the discussion of town-planning options.

Vladimir Zhidkin, Head of the Moscow New Territories Development Department, opened the session.  In his speech, he presented a new territory development plan worked out over the last two years.  This plan is based on the opinions collected during public hearings and takes into account 29 thousand comments made by the citizens and companies.  The main principles employed when putting together the territory development plan included:

– Polycentricity as a basis for the creation of town-planning activity centers. 12 growth points, town-planning development centers, including all required social facilities, cultural facilities, parks and jobs;

– A comfortable urban environment (comfortable and environmentally safe city);

– A comfortable and environmentally safe environment for people;

– Jobs: within a walking distance, to be provided as a priority to the citizens of the historical part of the city and areas adjacent to the Moscow Region and Kaluga Region;

– As a result, reduced number of commuters;

– Maintaining the ecological framework;

– Priority: low-rise and mid-rise integrated residential premises construction (4-5 and 9-12 floors);

– A well-developed transport and engineering infrastructure including over 600 km of roads.

Mr. Valery Fyodorov, General Director of VCIOM, was the next speaker at the event. The research compared the opinions of the residents of ‘old’ and ‘new’ Moscow regarding the future of the newly added territories.  The Muscovites are well-informed of Moscow expansion, and are highly supportive of this decision. Residents of the ‘old’ and New Moscow expect an improvement of urban infrastructure as a result of the city expansion.  Residents of ‘old’ Moscow believe that the added territories have a number of advantages compared to the territory of the city within the boundaries of up to 2012.  They believe that the New Moscow ecology is better, same as the prospects of housing improvement, and consider New Moscow to be more child friendly. According to residents of both parts of the city, New Moscow is best suited for the young and families with kids. Muscovites consider the development of science and education to be an optimum and preferred option as regards the future of the added territories.  This belief is particularly common among the residents of New Moscow.

Oleg Abrosimov, Pro-Rector for Property Development of the National Research Technological University ‘Moscow Institute of Steel & Alloys’ updated the participants on designing a new university campus in New Moscow.  The tender was won in 2010 by a Dutch company, who performed the design works. Expert review was undergone in 2012, same year when the Kommunarka village was added to Moscow.  The project is being currently adjusted, this time, in line with the Moscow requirements.

Alexander Ruchiev, President of the Morton Group, shared information on the company’s projects in New Moscow.  Serednevo micro-district is one of them.  The micro-district is ideally located in an environmentally friendly area, with a high potential for development and creation of all requisite conditions for a comfortable living.  The project provides for the entire range of social, retail & entertainment and engineering infrastructure, including kindergartens, schools, polyclinics, a sports and rehabilitation facility, retail & entertainment complexes and multiple shops.  Further to that, EXPOLAND MOSCOW, Moscow’s largest world-class all-year-round exhibition hall/cultural and business center, will be set up at an adjacent area of about 200 hectares.  EXPOLAND will have a permanent exhibition, and will host various events, expositions, conferences, etc.

Irina Ilyina, Director of the Institute of Regional Studies and Urban Planning of the Higher School of Economics, tackled in her report the implementation of innovative approaches to building New Moscow areas investment and town-planning development models.  Ms. Ilyina mentioned that a development vector would need to be selected based on the already constructed facilities and the needs of the residents, and should take into account the demand of potential future residents.

Kirill Puzanov, Head of Research Projects of the Moscow Institute of Social and Cultural Programs, presented a report on the New Moscow territories cultural development aspect.  His report was mostly based on the results of the Mechanics of Moscow (key project of the institute) poll, in which 12-15 thousand respondents had been polled on a district basis.  ‘The level of transport accessibility’ and ‘demand for culture and entertainment’ in the ‘old’ and ‘new’ Moscow differ significantly, and the authors of the research are positive that these indicators are interrelated. At the moment, the key conclusion is that in addition to the creation of infrastructural facilities, it is necessary to raise demand for future facilities.

Irina Irbitskaya, Director of the Center of Town-Planning Competencies of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, tackled in her report the subject of driver projects, which trigger new territories development, but are not terminated after commissioning.  Such project in Moscow can be the development of a network of transport interchange hubs and adjacent areas.  Based on the research conducted by the Center of Town Planning Competencies, Ms. Irbitskaya submitted a proposal to limit the number of floors for large-scale development to 6-8 floors, drop the micro-district concept of development and remove the limitation on the density of development.

Tomas Lastovka, Investment and Development Director at PPF Real Estate, presented the Comcity project. This is the first project implemented in New Moscow two kilometers away from the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD) on the Kievskoe Highway. Construction performed in several stages provides for high-quality office premises, a shopping arcade, landscaping, recreation areas, a fitness center, a kindergarten and a medical center.

To conclude the discussion session, Ilya Gavrilov, General Director of Investtrast, presented another project within the New Moscow territory, New Vatutinki. This is a project of low-rise residential premises construction, integrated with the already existing landscape.