R. Minnikhanov: “The development of the Kazan center should ensure the preservation of the historical environment”

(KZN.RU, April 17). The center of Kazan should have investment and tourist attractiveness. At the same time, its development policy should ensure the preservation of the historical environment of the ancient city. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, stated this at the meeting held the day before at the House of Government of the RT.

Asgat Safarov, the head of the Staff of the President of the RT, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, Kamil Iskhakov, an assistant to the President of the RT, Olesya Baltusova, an assistant to the President of the RT, Irek Faizullin, the minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing and Communal Services of the RT, Ivan Gushchinm, the chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Objects, Svetlana Persova, the deputy chairperson of the Committee of the RT for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and others took part in it.

The meeting was devoted to the concept of sustainable development of the historical settlement of Kazan. Opening the meeting, R. Minnikhanov reminded that the meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on urban planning in the historic settlements of the republic was held last April. It was decided to start developing a concept that would preserve the historical appearance of the capital. The document should develop building rules, acting within the boundaries of the historical settlement.

“The center of Kazan should have investment and tourist attractiveness. On the other hand, its development policy should ensure the preservation of the historical environment of the ancient city”, noted Rustam Minnikhanov.

Oleg Maklakov, the head of the project team of the Kazan Center Concept, made a report on the working issues of the project team in terms of the General Plan for Kazan.

The main goal of the concept is to create a socio-economic, legal and spatial model of development of the territory while ensuring the preservation of the historical identity of the city.

Oleg Maklakov said that the working title of the concept is “Center of Kazan: sustainable development”. He briefly described the studies conducted on the functioning of public infrastructure in the city center and pedestrian activity. Thus, it was revealed that a part of the historical center is in isolation due to the low walking accessibility. “We need walking routes and connectedness of objects located in the historic center”, said the speaker.

Each micro-district of the city is distinguished by its originality. Further modern buildings should be inscribed in the historical appearance, noted members of the design team.

O. Maklakov also added that today there are unused areas in the city center, in particular, the area of Narimanov Street and further behind it towards the embankment of the Volga River. He proposed to expand the potential of the area near the River Port, Lokomotiv beach, in general, to use the wide possibilities for accessing the Volga pedestrian routes.

At the end of the meeting, participants discussed operational issues and outlined strategic instructions for the development of the Kazan agglomeration with an additional discussion, reports the press service of the President of the RT.

R. Minnikhanov instructed once again to organize such a meeting in June for further work on the concept.