Posts Tagged ‘Valentina Matvienko’
More on Okhta Centre
The deputy director of Okhta Center, Vladimir Gronsky, sang praises to the skyscraper in the NTV report. “People call it a corncob, but I don’t see anything bad in a corncob,” he said. “The corncob is nature’s ideal creation.”
Well, that’s what I always think about when I think about Okhta. Hence my nickname for it: “The Corn Palace.”
But according to The Moscow Times, the Clan War continues:
In a sign of the division, two state-controlled television channels aired competing reports on Sunday night about Okhta Center, which is to serve as the headquarters for Gazprom Neft but has met with fierce public opposition.
Over at Russia Profile Svetlana Kononova asks the question: Are Skyscrapers a Crime Against St Petersburg’s Heritage, or a Boon to Its Development?
According to a recent poll conducted by TOY-Opinion Research Company and ECOM Center of Expertise, 66 percent of respondents would vote against construction of the tower. Forty percent said they “categorically object” and 26 percent said that they are “somewhat against” it. Seven percent support the project “entirely,” and 13 percent said they are “fairly” supportive of it.
If St. Petersburg were added to the list of world heritage sites in danger, 63.6 percent of respondents said that this loss could not be compensated for with any amount of money.
Those who are most supportive of the project are students and managers—20 percent of them voted for the Okhta Center.
And now Okhta Centre, and Valentina Matviyenko are back-pedalling. Well, it’s not for sure yet. Really? Well, that’s cool. If true, then maybe Russians will see that they have the power to affect change.
Alexander Avdeyev
is totally my hero right now. Of course, he will probably fall flat on his face, but at least he is taking a stand on Gazprom Tower (I am still confused as to the real name… hang on… here it is: Okhta Centre). Again, think of Smolnyy, people of Petersburg! And your status as a World Heritage Site!
One problem, AP, Alexander Avdeyev is not all that powerful. He has had an impressive career, but he may be taking on too much with both Gazprom, and Valentina Matvienko. This could turn out to be the end of his career, or at least the beginning of a clan war.
Putinania 