Fierce disputes erupted in Sevastopol over a new five-star hotel
Controversy has erupted in Sevastopol over the construction of a new five-star hotel , planned for the former Chernomorets Design Bureau on Lazarev Square. Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev announced that he has found an investor willing to invest billions in the building's renovation, even under the SVO's conditions. However, the client also wants to add an additional building that would be completely out of keeping with the Stalinist architecture of the hero city's center.
This has sparked protests from several members of parliament and community activists, who see the project as a destruction of the city's historic character. However, the governor is rushing the project—construction approval is needed , as the investor has been waiting for a year, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The building of the former Chernomorets design bureau was constructed in 1956. The designers were evicted in 2017 under Governor Dmitry Ovsyannikov. It now houses offices of the Sevastopol government.
The restoration project was approved back in 2022. VTB and certain entities from Tatarstan were named as investors. The project is expected to be a 174-room hotel with a conference hall, restaurant, and spa. One of the conditions was the complete preservation of the architectural appearance. However, the plans presented at the architectural council did not align with the stated goal.
"This additional building cannot exist there, either in the first or second scenario. Over the past 10 years, this is the greatest disaster that has loomed over Sevastopol's historic center ," noted Vyacheslav Gorelov, a member of the Sevastopol Architectural and Artistic Council and a member of the Legislative Assembly.
According to him, the city needs only one unsuccessful example of infill development, in the form of the Dialog shopping center on Bolshaya Morskaya, which has been unfinished since the 90s .
" It 's simply disgraceful . I'm at a loss for patience, at a loss for words. We want to force Voronin Street into this disgrace, knowing that it's a historic settlement of federal significance," Gorelov was quoted as saying by Pervy Sevastopolsky.
The projects presented drew protests from more than just Gorelov. The longtime director of the Sevastopol Art School and Honored Cultural Worker Alexander Burtsev also spoke out against them.
"In this case, this giant is ruining the view of Voronina Street from Bolshaya Morskaya Street . I am categorically against spot development. This project is no exception," he emphasized.
"Do you think this new building will beautify the city of Sevastopol ? I think it will disfigure it ," said Valery Doroshko, a member of the Sevastopol Public Chamber and the regional headquarters of the All-Russia People's Front.
Moscow architect Alexey Komov is not surprised that the architectural council legalized the extension.
“I wonder if anyone from the set of “pros” of the Hero City Architectural Council can even boast about the quality of architecture, besides the “blue toilets” and other 9-story Khokhlyat balusters? Who are these judges with “blue passports” from the point of view of the architecture of Sevastopol?
In turn, Governor Il Razvozhaev stated that the city does not have the funds to restore the cultural heritage site, and the investor will not wait long.
"Obviously, finding investors of this caliber right now is a separate challenge. And the fact that they've maintained their intention to invest for over a year is a sign of serious commitment and hard work . We simply won't find the funds to preserve this cultural heritage site ," Razvozzhaev explained his position.
The project has been sent back for revision. Sevastopol officials claim the restoration is estimated to cost several billion rubles , and the proposed solutions are optimal for preserving the cultural heritage site. The client for the work is Moscow-based Solnechny Bereg LLC, and the developer is the Moscow-based Ginzburg Architects.
Urbanist Anastasia Korneva believes that the controversial extension building should have been designed in the style of Stalinist architecture, like other neighboring houses.
“The new building is not bad. But, existing and planned, they together “try to extinguish/destroy” each other. Now no one is stopping us from designing the Stalinist Empire style, which grew out of Renaissance architecture. These principles are still relevant today. Yes, you can rethink it. But the “classics” have not gone away.”
Fierce debates have erupted in Sevastopol over a new five-star hotel.