Residents of Academic District petition for building a school in the birch grove. Removed from there due to request by other residents.
Residents of Yekaterinburg's Academic District have voiced opposition to the latestdesign for a redevelopment project involving a birch grove. The proposed plan now includes moving the planned school to a different location, which is causing dissatisfaction among local residents.
This change is part of agreements between city officials and advocates for the birch grove, who have been working for years to secure protected status for the area. The exception of both the school and daycare from construction plans was agreed upon as part of these negotiations.
In April, a commission working on the new rules for land use and development reclassified the site containing the birch grove as TOP-1, a category primarily meant for parks and gardens.
More than 30 residents participated in the public discussions and called on authorities to reconsider their plans. Among their suggestions were:
- Keeping the school and daycare in their original locations and finding ways for the developer to build social infrastructure first, with the municipality later compensating them for the costs. Residents worry that moving the facilities to another neighborhood might delay construction.
- Keeping the park that the developer promised to improve. If the park is not maintained, it could become dangerous, poorly lit, and virtually inaccessible during night time and in spring.
- One participant also pointed out that moving the social infrastructure to another location would make it inaccessible for nearby residents.
City officials have dismissed these proposals and suggestions as impractical. In fact, the recently updated Gennplan-2045 leaves the area designated as a forest park.
In response to the public comments, the city administration stated that the educational facility will be built in a nearby neighborhood, bordered by Mehrentev Avenue, Red Forest Avenue, Wilhelm de Gennin Street, and Vonsovsky Street. In addition, plans for a school in the Chkalov, Vonsovsky, Amundsen, and Red Forest Avenue neighborhood are underway.
Since 2018, the site of the birch grove has been leased to Atomstroikomplex, with the company initially intending to develop all 25 hectares of the land. However, after several rounds of discussions with city officials, the developer agreed to build on only 9 hectares, while the remaining 16 hectares would be turned into a park. This compromise, however, has not appeased activists, escalating the conflict to an impasse.
In January, workers arrived at the construction site and began felling trees. Local residents gathered at the birch grove to stop the workers, prompting the police to intervene later on the same day.
В новой версии проекта планировки из квартала исчез образовательный центр (на левой карте - темно-зеленый контур в центре). Его собираются перенести на пустырь вдоль улицы Вильгельма де Геннина.
In February, the leader of the activists, Denis Karakoz, met with Yekaterinburg's mayor, Alexei Orlov. As a result of this meeting, the area of land allocated for residential development is expected to be reduced, and the birch grove will be reclassified as a park.
The city administration's response to the residents' suggestions stresses the planned move of the educational facility to a nearby neighborhood, sparking concerns about potential delays in construction. Moreover, the residents express concern about the fate of the park promised for improvement, fearing its potential neglect, leading to unsafe conditions, especially at night and during spring.
