Zialiony Luh District Residents Rebelled Against Densification

Another "hot spot" has appeared on the map of Minsk.

A few days ago, the city authorities unveiled a new plan of territory densification within Lahoiski tract and Siadykh, Kiadyshka and Slavinski streets, Charter97.org reports.

There is no concrete information about what kind of buildings will be built here. According to the project and maps published on the website of the Pervamaiski district administration, it is planned to cut down part of the Sevastopalski park and the green zone along Kalinouski Street. Residential houses, administrative and business complexes, as well as multi-level parking will be built in their place.

In 2012 and 2013, the city authorities have already tried to densify some of this territory, but the Minskers’ protests forced them to back off. Now the plans for densification are more large-scale ones. Nevertheless, the locals are ready to fight against the densification. Leaflets with an appeal to take part in the public discussion of the project, which will be held in the Palace of Struggle (Kalinovsky Street, 55) on June 4 at 18:00, are pasted up in the courtyards of the houses and at public transport stops. Tenants actively discuss the plans of the authorities at the entrances, calling them "lawlessness".

"There is only one polyclinic and one bank in our district. Two hour queues are a normal thing there. There are not enough kindergartens and schools, narrow streets no longer carry the amount of transport. There is no air to breathe with. And imagine what will happen after the densification! I'm not talking about the fact that, because of such plans, Zialiony Luh will never be green," – Volha, a resident of the house No. 69 in Kalinouski Street, said in a comment to charter97.org website.

"There are already several problem points in Minsk. Asmolovauka, Uruchcha ... In Kalinin street, not far from here, a high-rise building is going to be built in the yard. They do not care about us at all. We need to unite and demand to stop destroying our city and mutilating it. Maybe we can do something together," – Mikhail from the neighboring house No. 61 says.

The district residents call on neighbors to take part in the public discussion and strongly protest against the plans of the authorities. "Or, it will be too late," – they say.