A recent survey conducted by the Center for Social Research and Technological Innovation (SITI) at the Higher School of Economics examined public attitudes toward both newly built residential complexes and the redevelopment of existing structures in Russian cities over the past several years. The study gathered responses from residents across multiple urban areas to understand how people perceive modernization efforts, the kinds of spaces they expect to fill, and how these changes might influence future housing choices.
In settlements where fresh constructions have risen in the last three to five years, the survey polled 3,200 residents. The findings show that a solid majority—72 percent—expressed satisfaction with the new housing projects. A smaller segment, 25 percent, reported dissatisfaction, while 3 percent indicated difficulty in answering the question. This pattern highlights a generally favorable view of new housing developments among those living in recently built neighborhoods.
When the focus shifts to redevelopment of aging buildings, the results remain largely positive. Among respondents who witnessed the transformation of older structures in their city, 72 percent provided a favorable assessment of the end result. Fewer participants rejected the redevelopment outcome compared with new builds, with 11 percent expressing discontent and 17 percent choosing not to respond to the question. The data suggest that restoration and modernization of existing buildings can resonate as a successful strategy in urban redevelopment, at least within the sample surveyed.
Analysts note a notable preference regarding the functional role of redeveloped buildings. Asked what functions should fill former structures, respondents indicated a tendency to prioritize non-residential uses. Social facilities and commercial amenities were cited more often than purely residential purposes, signaling a readiness to repurpose redeveloped sites as centers for community services, culture, commerce, and social activity. This insight underscores a broader urban planning trend: residents value spaces that support daily life, work, and community interaction in close proximity.
When participants were directly questioned about their willingness to purchase housing in a building that had undergone redevelopment, attitudes varied depending on the building’s prior purpose. Some sites associated with historically problematic conditions elicited stronger concerns about future housing. For example, 81 percent of respondents rejected the idea of buying housing in a former power plant building. A small share, 14 percent, considered it, but did not see additional value in the option, while 3 percent expressed an interest in living there. About 2 percent found it difficult to respond. These responses illustrate a cautious stance toward housing in locations with a legacy of industrial risk, even after redevelopment has taken place.
Residents across neighborhoods offered similar viewpoints regarding housing in buildings that previously housed heavy industry enterprises. The overall pattern suggests that while redevelopment can generate broad public confidence, the acceptance of housing in redeveloped industrial sites depends on perceived safety, environmental quality, and amenities offered by the new configuration.
Experts observing the data emphasize that a strong potential for public trust exists in redevelopment initiatives, particularly when residents have firsthand evidence of positive results within their own cities. The authors highlight a notable difference in sentiment: the balance of positive to negative opinions for new housing in Russian cities stood at 47 percent in favor, whereas for redeveloped old buildings the gap widened to a more favorable +61 percent. This indicates a robust public appetite for well-executed redevelopment that delivers clear improvements in living conditions and neighborhood vitality. Evgeny Mihaylenko, who serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Urban and Regional Development at HSE and directs the CITY Center, anchors the interpretation of these findings with his leadership and expertise.