As part of the development of a new housing policy in Ukraine, a plan for the modernization of Khrushchev buildings is being considered. According to experts, the repair of an outdated housing stock can significantly extend its operation and improve people’s living conditions.
About this reported head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Power Organization, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, head of the Servant of the People party Olena Shulyak.
Kyiv architect Oleg Grechuh warns that repeating the “Moscow-Luzhkov” experience, when five-story buildings are demolished to build new high-rise buildings in their place, is not justified in Ukraine. He cites the example of the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, where old houses are not destroyed, but are comprehensively renovated.
“Unfortunately, we still have communist ideas about housing,” says Grechuh. – “People got apartments for free and believed that their entrance would be repaired by ZHEK, and everything behind their apartment was owned by the state. People don’t want to take responsibility, that’s a problem.”
It is important to understand that the entire apartment building, its communications, stairwells and entrances are the joint property of the residents. That is why the modernization of Khrushchev buildings requires the active participation and cooperation of all apartment owners.
As part of the preparation of the Ukraine Facility program (provided for funding from the EU for 50 billion euros), Ukraine is developing a new housing policy. The draft law on this issue is promised to be presented in the next few months, but some of its aspects have already been publicly announced.
Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Power Organization, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning Olena Shulyak notes that the key issue is finding funding for modernization. She cites the example of Germany, where 40-70% of the funds for repairs were received thanks to state lending programs for renovation projects at a low interest rate. This made it possible to reconstruct more than 90,000 panel houses across the country.
“In Germany, the main criterion for choosing between reconstruction and demolition is the level of physical wear and tear of the building” – explains Shulyak. – “If it exceeded 60%, the house was demolished to build a new one on that territory. If it is less than 60%, then renovation was allowed with the help of the addition of additional floors, expansion of the area of apartments due to redevelopment, insulation of the facades of buildings and modernization of the heating system, installation of energy-efficient glass units, etc..”
