Penza, 5 January 2016. PenzaNews. An open presentation of the Sura river embankment project took place in the City Duma session hall on Wednesday, January 6. The event involved the governor Ivan Belozertsev, the Penza mayor Victor Kuvaytsev, the city head Valery Savelyev, heads of ministries and departments, deputies of the regional Legislative Assembly and the City Duma, and citizens.

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The hall featured several display stands with concepts of reconstruction for the embankment and the adjacent territory, some of which were developed by the students of the Penza State University of Architecture and Construction.

In his opening word, Ivan Belozertsev pointed out the exceptionally big need in the project.

According to the head of the region, the reconstruction works should begin as early as in 2016, complete with negotiating all issues related to the landplots and buildings within the embankment zone.

“I do understand only municipal funding would not be enough. The region will take part in it; we will be providing financial help. We are still undecided on the exact procedure, but there is no doubt that it must be a joint effort,” Ivan Belozertsev stressed.

In turn, Victor Kuvaytsev called the presentation a historic event and thanked the concept creators for fruitful development work.

“The presented development concept for the Sura river embankment is already being discussed in our permanent city development council. But I would like everyone to take part in the debate, including our citizens and the media,” said the Penza city administration head.

According to him, the authorities plan to make the Sura river embankment the landmark area of the city.

“Certainly, this calls for a large number of technical, engineering, architectural solutions. I think that our discussion will serve to facilitate the gradual development in these areas,” the mayor pointed out.

Victor Kuvaytsev also expressed his hope that the project will be developed through joint efforts of authorities and business.

The project was created by the leading professionals of the region, announced Leonid Ioffe, chief architect of the Penza region, head of the task force on Sura river embankment concept development.

“The concept defines the area’s development forecast – short-term, and long-term up until 2030. Most importantly, after discussing the concept, reviewing proposals from professionals, the public, the citizens, the work will likely become the foundation for the Sura river embankment plan,” he noted, adding that an open discussion will serve to rectify any errors and mistakes in the further work of architects and builders.

According to one of the authors of the project – Alexander Breusov, chairman of the Penza regional branch of the Russian Architects Union – it is a fruit of work and consensus by the region’s 25 best architects.

“The work was distributed in three main project fields: city planning, space-planning solution, and environment design. We also distributed the work in three time periods: before 2018, when the Football World Cup starts, as we’d like something to be done by then; next 2023, and 2030. Certainly, these timelines quite nominal. The only strict one is 2018 – it is law, we cannot push it further, but the rest are nominal,” he explained.

The architect Zufar Ziyatdinov described the city planning solutions. According to him, they propose to envision the embankment as a space that functions in union with adjacent city zones, such as Moskovskaya and Pushkina streets, Belinsky Central Park, Olimpiyskaya alley, and Klyuchevskaya street.

“This vast landmark space designed to attract guests that we hope will be created in Penza requires further development of the transportation and pedestrian network of the city as well. In particular, on the first stage, Bakunina street will be opened for vehicles and pedestrians: currently, it is blocked after the Bakuninsky bridge. The final stage will see Zlobina street be moved away from the waterline to the zone along the railroad,” he said.

Moreover, Zufar Ziyatdinov added, the experts agreed on the necessity to expand the pedestrian zones on Bakuninsky and Kazansky bridges to 2.25 m.

“In addition, to create a circle of pedestrian traffic, we propose to build a transportation and pedestrian bridge on the place where we are currently erecting the temporary pontoon bridge. It will create a circle of bicycle and pedestrian movement,” the architect pointed out.

Following that, Sergei Gerasimov, director of “Gorinveststroy,” presented the space-planning solution of the project. He said that the embankment development concept features a large 35-floor dominant complex – proposed, among other things, to be used for hotel purposes – located between Maxima Gorkovo street and the new viaduct.

“We need investments. And we do realize that it [the complex] must combine many functions in itself. One of the variants we see possible is to combine a hotel complex and a marriage hall under private-public partnership to make this location a stronger anchor object and increase its investment attractiveness,” he said.

Moreover, the expert added that the proposal also features a landscape tiered stalls set with a level rise towards Uritskovo street and going down to the waterline, supported by a commercial three-story building.

According to Sergei Gerasimov, Bakunina street may see the appearance of a multifunctional culture and entertainment center, the summer market may house an urbanized C-shaped multifunctional residential complex with underground parking and commercial offices. At the same time, he proposed, the adjacent area of restaurant “Bochka” may house a high-density historic district with many cafes and restaurants, while the spit of Peski island will include a large object with yet undetermined purpose.

In addition, the expert added, the final development stage will see the appearance of new apartment buildings on the right-side embankment, which will require to demolish the dilapidated housing, while the DOSAAF building will be converted to an art hall following the example of “Vinzavod” in Moscow.

The architect Anatoly Ruznyaev described the design solutions for the embankment. According to him, the territory in question will be divided into three zones: zone of festivities and recreation, with elements of art objects; historic zone; and youth and sports zone.

“The zone of festivities and recreation will cover the promenade area, the entertainment park, and the quay. Next is the zone with the seats, the scene and the art zone. We will be extending it through area improvement, and transition into the historic zone which we see as a stylistic zone of cafes and quays. And if we circle along this part, we enter the sports zone.”

Following the presentation, the participants began the discussion of the concept.

The first to express his opinion was Rafik Ibragimov, general director of “Termodom,” who pointed out that the concept pays little attention to parking space management, which he considers a significant omission.

He also asked to pay attention to the architectural outlook of Uritskovo street, and proposed to create a city beach zone by the embankment, which he thinks would entail working with the owners of shoreside buildings that discharge waste to Sura.

In turn, Grigory Kabelsky, chairman of the regional sports committee, pointed out that the sports zone in the concept must be designed not only for the youth but for the elderly as well, and offered to cover the roads in the sector with a layer of soft material for running.

In conclusion, Ivan Belozertsev stressed that the open-doors discussions of the Sura river embankment territory will be held in Penza regularly.