On Nov. 10 activists from the Kyiv municipal civic organization Kyivski myttsi (Kyivan Artists) and the civic organization Opora submitted a letter to the Presidential Secretariat, asking him to intercede in a conflict surrounding Andriivsky Uzviz. So far no one knows what kind of decision President Yushchenko will issue. The secretariat’s spokesman had no comment on the Ukrainian government’s official stand, saying only that the artists will receive a response within the month, which will be forwarded to the proper authorities.
As reported earlier by Den, in August 2006, during a public hearing at the Podil district administration, members of the local community supported the idea of restoring Andriivsky Uzviz and renovating the street’s engineering structures. However, in copies of the minutes distributed to the participants the phrase “restoration of buildings” was omitted, leaving only “renovation,” in other words, authorization to renovate buildings, change their designation, intensify new construction projects, and so on.
After a second hearing in late September a full package of documents reflecting the results was forwarded to the Kyiv City State Administration, which has apparently shelved the case. According to Oleksandr Matskevych, spokesman of Kyivski myttsi, no decisions have been made and the issue of Andriivsky Uzviz has not been deliberated at a single session. To spur the city administration into action, artists and representatives of civic organizations are now collecting signatures for a draft City Council resolution that was formulated on the basis of proposals submitted by the general public.
Andriivsky Uzviz is part of the State Historical and Cultural Preserve Starodavnii Kyiv (Ancient Kyiv) and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the capital. However, business entities involved with retail outlets on this street are afraid that the investment attractiveness of this area and large sums that other businessmen are prepared to pay for the right to renovate the Uzviz may outweigh legislative norms and cultural values, especially in light of Opora’s information that the Kyiv City Council has already allocated several officially protected construction sites.
In addition to the letter, a draft KCSA resolution and minutes of the public hearings were submitted to the president. The project is based on the need to carry out an independent expert evaluation of the street prior to restoration and renovation, and the gradual relocation of vendors and street artists on the Uzviz, and the continued functioning of the street even during the city works. Matskevych said that the proposed relocation of vendors to Kontraktova Ploshcha will cause a great deal of inconvenience to both artists and visitors. It is also opposed by the chairman of the Podil district state administration. The Kyivan artists’ group proposes to protect the Uzviz from any further encroachments by granting it the status of a folk crafts preserve.
