Sergei Sobyanin describes how the housing renovation program is changing Moscow neighborhoods

In 2017, the renovation program was approved. It is the largest project to upgrade existing housing in the capital’s history. In the eight years since the program began, about 6.4 million square meters of new housing have been built in the city. Over 226,000 Moscow residents from more than 1,300 buildings are currently being relocated or have already moved into new apartments. Sergei Sobyanin gave more details in a post on his blog.

“Each home represents a new level of comfort, new opportunities and, of course, new pages in the lives of many families. We are not slowing down the pace of work on the program. More than 10.5 million square meters are still at the design stage or under construction,” wrote the Mayor of Moscow.

The renovation program involves not only the construction of apartment buildings but also the also comprehensive renovation and improvement of the urban environment in dozens of Moscow districts. Unlike the old buildings, the new ones look stylish and fit seamlessly into the existing urban landscape. Their entrances are on the same level as the sidewalk, and there are curb ramps to allow convenient descent to the roadway for children’s strollers and residents with low mobility.

A huge disadvantage of the older neighborhoods was the lack of stores and other facilities close to residents’ homes. In the new buildings the first floors are initially allocated for socially significant facilities, such as stores, cafes, and children’s and sports centers. To date, about a thousand retail and service businesses have already opened in the new buildings, creating more than 13,000 additional jobs. In addition, delivery lockers are being installed in entrances so that residents can receive online orders around the clock without queuing. Today, more than 100 of these devices have been installed.

Instead of noisy and car-filled roads, the residents of the new buildings are provided with full-sized courtyards with convenient playgrounds for games, sports and leisure. More than 600 children’s playgrounds with slides, climbing frames, swings and sand pits have already appeared as part of the renovation program. And for sports, almost 450 workout zones and special areas with exercise machines for all muscle groups have been installed.

The program also includes mandatory landscaping of the adjacent territory. Lilacs, apple trees and maples are planted in the yards, and flower beds and lawns are laid out. Among other things, bicycle parking areas with shelters are being installed. And to ensure the safety in the territory around the buildings video surveillance systems and smart street lamps with automatic light regulation depending on the time of day are installed in the courtyards.

“Renovation does not just change the external appearance of neighborhoods, it also creates a new urban environment in which every resident can find all they need for a comfortable life within walking distance from home,” added Sergei Sobyanin.