The development of the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod was discussed at the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

      20 August 2025, 20:53

      [212]

      Society

      A meeting of the Committee on Urban Development, Property and Land Relations was held in the Legislative Assembly. One of the main topics of discussion was the implementation of urban development policy within the boundaries of the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod, where the city’s cultural heritage is concentrated.

      The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Assembly Denis Bakiev, deputies of the regional parliament, and representatives of the regional government. Parliamentarians emphasized the special responsibility involved in developing a city with such a rich history.

      In his report, Deputy Minister of Urban Development and Agglomeration Development of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Mikhail Genin noted that the historic center, covering 755 hectares, contains 880 cultural heritage sites (CHS), is home to 273,000 people, and still retains green spaces. At the same time the city is actively attracting investment: about 850 applications for investment projects are submitted annually, a significant portion of which concern the urban environment itself.

      “Preserving the identity of Nizhny Novgorod in conditions of growth is a challenge for deputies and urban planners. We face a complex but achievable task: to ensure the city’s progressive development without allowing the loss of its historical code. The conflict between point development and heritage preservation must be resolved through clear and mandatory rules for everyone: functional zoning and urban planning regulations. I am convinced that such a strategy is the key to creating a unique, functional, and attractive urban environment for residents and visitors of Nizhny Novgorod,” emphasized Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Evgeny Lyulin.

      A key issue discussed was the application of managerial and urban planning tools that allow development to be combined with preservation of the historic appearance. Such tools include functional zoning, regulation of the architectural appearance through urban planning regulations and a design code, and special regulations for the protected zones of cultural heritage sites. Special attention is paid to the mechanism of Comprehensive Development of Territories (CDT), which combines managerial, economic, and architectural solutions.

      The master plan for CDT territories was recognized as an important instrument. It is developed with the participation of residents, investors, businesses, and authorities and elaborates in detail the integration of valuable historic objects into new development. Deputies discussed concrete examples of such work: the CDT project for Chernigovskaya Street, Garshina, and Melnichny Lane; CDTs on Malaya Yamskaya, Ilyinskaya, Maslyakova, Bolshie Ovragi, Pokhvalinsky Descent; as well as a CDT in the area of Gogol, Nizhegorodskaya, and Zalomov streets. In each case attention is paid to identifying and preserving valuable historic elements such as old estates, churches, and the memory of local heroes, as, for example, on Samochkina Street.

      “Through detailed regulations, a design code and, most importantly, CDTs we create mechanisms that allow modern neighborhoods to organically ‘incorporate’ old estates, churches and chambers, as on Gogol or Chernigovskaya Streets. This is painstaking work to preserve Nizhny’s identity amid its dynamic growth,” noted Chairman of the Regional Parliament Committee on Urban Development, Property and Land Relations Vasily Sukhanov.

      At the end of the presentation deputies asked the speaker a number of clarifying questions, paying particular attention to transport logistics and the road network within the boundaries of the comprehensive development projects. During the discussion concrete examples were raised, including Chernigovskaya and Gogol Streets, where dense historic development and the commissioning of new housing create increased pressure on the street and road network. Given the complexity and urgency of the issues raised, members of the Legislative Assembly’s committees on urban development and transport agreed to hold a joint extended meeting next month to work out in detail the mechanisms for the synchronized development of housing and transport infrastructure.

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