Iconic Krasnodar long-term construction to finish by 2026
At the entrance to the historic center of Krasnodar, which officials in official documents refer to only as the historical settlement of Ekaterinodar, an unfinished high-rise building shaped like an inverted letter «P» has stood for many years. Residents can spot it simply by looking toward the All Saints Cemetery while walking or driving through the intersection of Severnaya and Aerodromnaya streets.
Few remember that more than 10 years ago there was a driving school on this site. A couple of years later, a fence appeared, behind which the skeleton of the high-rise gradually grew. It grew, to put it mildly, unevenly — work would be in full swing and then stop altogether. This is the «Skala» residential complex. The current name of this complex is «Axis Center».
About a year ago, a tower crane reappeared at the construction site, and orange hard hats of workers could be seen in the openings. The portal 93.RU reports on what is happening now with one of the city«s most recognizable long-term construction projects and why it became one.
«Skala» on a vacant lot
As we reported in our previous article, the construction site on the site of that driving school at the intersection of Severnaya and Aerodromnaya appeared in 2011. A plot of 3,000 square meters was fenced with a blue fence. That same year, heavy machinery began working there, digging a pit for the future high-rise.
By 2014, a sign was hung on the fence gates from Aerodromnaya Street, telling passersby that a «Multifunctional Center of the Higher School of Business» was being built here (behind this wording was the 25-story residential complex «Skala»). The developer was Kapital Invest LLC, the general contractor was GiS LLC, and the designer was KrasnodarArkhProekt LLC.
The investor in the construction was AXIS company. It also participated in the construction of the «Turgenevsky Bor», «Rechnye Prostory» and «Krasnodar» residential complexes.
A little later, a small glass building appeared at the very corner of the intersection — a sales office called «Skala House». Starting in 2019, no visible construction work took place on the site. The construction crane also disappeared from there.
According to the project documentation for 2015, the total area of the building was to be almost 56,000 square meters (including several underground floors). Note that the building footprint was 1,999 square meters (with a land plot of over 3,000 square meters). The free space was intended for a children«s playground, a recreation area for adults, a parking lot, various driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping.
The commercial premises were planned to house, among other things, a higher school of business, an internet club, a restaurant, and offices.
According to a more recent project declaration, the total area of the facility is now 47,400 square meters. And the number of floors has decreased from 25 to 19. The total area of all residential premises is 32,200 square meters.
Officially, the complex consists of apartments, but they have kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms. According to the declaration published on the residential complex«s website, there are 349 apartments ranging in size from 40 to 88 square meters.
Why did the complex become lower?
Initially, the complex was planned to be 25 stories. In 2019, regional officials adopted a document prohibiting the construction of housing higher than 21 meters in the historic center of Krasnodar. This ban also included the area near the All Saints Cemetery, where the «Skala» complex is being built.
In addition, court proceedings on bankruptcy began against the company in 2019. In 2020, the Arbitration Court of the Republic of Adygea declared Kapital Invest LLC (the developer) bankrupt, after which bankruptcy proceedings were opened and the company came under external management.
The total amount of claims by creditors and equity holders (26 in total, including AXIS LLC) against Kapital Invest LLC exceeded 5 billion 755 million rubles (approximately $57.6 million at current rates). The largest claim was filed by Vyacheslav Dzhamirze — over 2.6 billion rubles (approximately $26 million at current rates).
What about the deadlines?
On December 22, 2021, the Adygea Arbitration Court approved a settlement agreement between Kapital Invest LLC and its creditors. The latter agreed to waive their rights to claim all losses (including penalties, fines, and interest). In return, the debtor company undertakes to fulfill its obligations. The construction deadlines were postponed to the end of 2024.
However, the completion deadlines were later postponed again — to 2025. And key handover was planned for the first quarter of 2026.
On the DOM.RF website, it is indicated that the house is now being handled by the developer «Tvoe Mesto» (which is part of the AXIS Group). AXIS has many different LLCs, one of which is AXIS Development LLC. This company was formed in the Republic of Adygea in 2015 (at the same address as Kapital Invest LLC: aul Novaya Adygea, Turgenevskoye Shosse 10a).
In response to an official request from 93.RU to the Krasnodar administration, it is stated that the degree of readiness of the facility is 87%.
What is happening at the construction site?
Now nothing remains of the gray skeleton of the building. Almost the entire facade is decorated with either brick or glass. Heavy machinery is working on the site. Hard hats of workers are periodically visible.
According to the developer Tvoe Mesto Specialized Developer LLC, the planned commissioning date is the first quarter of 2026. The validity of the construction permit has been extended until June 30, 2026.
Recall that earlier the developer Tvoe Mesto received a loan of 1.5 billion rubles (approximately $15 million at current rates) from DOM.RF Bank to complete the building.
