Muscovites stood up for Rogozhsky garages – Kommersant FM

Residents of the Tagansky district fear the demolition of historical buildings. According to the documents, the garages of the car plant in the constructivist style on Rogozhsky Val were supposed to be used as a cultural object. Previously, the Moscow Transport Museum was located there. Later the status of the territory changed. Now the building of the automobile plant can be turned into a food mall or demolished and a housing complex built. Earlier, Vedomosti reported that these garages became the property of Roman Agababaev, who acts in the interests of the Kyiv Ploshchad company. She, in turn, owns the Depot food mall chain. Local activists have been trying for more than a year to get an explanation from the authorities on what basis the city real estate was sold to an individual, and what will happen to the historically valuable property. With details – Alexander Mezentsev.

The complex of constructivist-style garages was built in the 50s of the last century. These are several interconnected buildings with triangular roofs and large semicircular windows. Due to the similarity of the architectural style with constructivism, Muscovites intuitively classified this object as a cultural heritage and did not even imagine that there could be talk of its demolition. However, this does happen, says architect Alexandra Musatova:

“This building is a valuable object in many respects precisely because it is a certain exception both from constructivism and from the Stalinist Empire style. Monuments that are recognized as heritage have a status such as, for example, the Rusakov Club or the Melnikov House. And there are ordinary constructivist buildings, which were made by less eminent masters or served a more functional role and were experimental in nature.”

Previously, the media wrote that the garages were sold for approximately 600 million rubles. At the same time, there was only one participant in the auction. The transport museum was already closed at that time. Local activists sent appeals to the capital authorities. The answers they receive are disappointing, says Moscow City Duma deputy Sergei Mitrokhin:

“I wrote an appeal to the Moskomarkhitektura, to the city property department. At first they answered that no changes were planned at all. Then they suddenly answered that, yes, the territory had been sold, but there would be a new food mall there. Residents, of course, were not very happy, however, a food mall is still about preserving an old building, and not about building a skyscraper.”

From the point of view of the law, at first glance, there are no obstacles even to the demolition of these garages, says managing partner, lawyer at the Land Law Firm Denis Litvinov:

“The status of a cultural heritage object does not prevent transactions with it, but imposes a so-called protective obligation on it: the new owner must monitor the condition of the object, he must not allow any actions for its reconstruction that could reduce the value of the object. At the same time, the current status of this site and the objects within its boundaries are not cultural heritage. It is possible that the facility will eventually be demolished.”

According to media reports, one of the options involves the construction of an elite residential complex on this site. However, according to Kommersant FM’s interlocutors, the cost per square meter here does not reach premium class status.

In addition, taking into account the activities of the buyer of the property, garages are more likely to turn into public space, says Artem Tsogoev, a member of the board of directors of the Simple Estate investment platform:

“Kyiv Ploshchad is the developer of the Depot projects – the network is quite successful. The first thought is that the hangar can be used as a food court. Proximity to the metro, regular rectangular shape, the building already exists, it is interesting with part of the redevelopment – this is the most correct strategy, taking into account the fact that, after all, the building is historical. And if we talk about what is more profitable, then, of course, it is more profitable to build housing and sell it apartment by apartment.”

At the same time, the Moscow City Heritage Department reported that in relation to these garages, no design documentation, including planning and architectural and urban planning decisions, was received for their consideration.

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