Life in Kemerovo's Fenced-Off Elite Microdistrict

Spot development has long vanished from Kemerovo, and now new construction involves entire residential complexes with extensive infrastructure. Recently, one such complex appeared in the Zavodskoy district on Sarygina Street, where private sector houses once stood. This report by NGS42.RU correspondent Alexander Levchuk explores «Seasons», a microdistrict where part is segregated from random passersby.

The city of Kemerovo, especially its old part, only seems large. Walking from Soviets Square to the new houses on Sarygina Street takes about 15–20 minutes. By car, it takes longer, and public transport is impractical, requiring a 7–10 minute walk from any route.

Shopping is no issue here: nearby stores include construction, automotive, and household shops, plus grocery chains like Maria-Ra, Pyaterochka, Begemag, Yarche, and the farmer«s section Kalina-Malina, along with a few cafes. Within walking distance is the Prospekt shopping mall, offering everything from clothing to appliances. A five-minute walk to Lenin Street reveals even more cafes, burger joints, shawarma spots, and other places to spend money on treats.

Beer bars and package delivery points spring up everywhere like mushrooms after rain.

The complex is divided into two parts: houses with brighter, seemingly «poorer» colors were completed earlier, while those in strict, «elite» tones were finished less than a year ago.

Approaching the new buildings, access is restricted, similar to the residential complex of Kuzbass Governor Ilya Seredyuk. Entry to courtyards requires a chip or contact with apartment owners via intercom. Prices are steep: a one-room apartment without finishing starts from 6 million rubles (about $65,200 at current rates), and a studio costs around 4 million rubles (about $43,500).

Many apartments remain unoccupied, evident from stickers on windows and workers delivering construction materials.

The area is under surveillance, with notices on walls near gates and intercoms. Similar setups were seen in the Kuznetsky residential complex, but there, courtyards with playgrounds were open to all, not just the «elite». Builders also left holes unsealed, exposing wires.

Local resident Irina, who lives nearby but not in «Seasons», said her grandson asked why people live behind a fence and don«t allow others in. She had no answer and resorted to making up a story.

— I said that bad people were settled behind the fence. What else could I tell him? That the rich were too stingy to share the playground? I don«t know what they have there, I don»t understand it, — she replied while walking with her child near the «poorer» part of the complex.

This section lacks high fences or chip access. It«s a typical courtyard, common in Kemerovo in recent years, with simple sports and children»s playgrounds, parking for cars of various prices—mostly sedans—but space is tight, leading to haphazard parking. In contrast, the new part has convenient underground parking.

Unlike old courtyards with Khrushchyovkas, this area is cleaner, has ramps for disabled access, and lacks graffiti, though drug dealers have posted «vacancies» here too.

Overall, the complex doesn«t resemble a typical »human hive«, like those being settled by people and ducks at FPK or Verkhny Boulevard, which is a plus: living in constant shadow from nearby buildings while overlooking neighbors» apartments isn«t pleasant.

See how people live in other districts of Kemerovo:

• «Duck» Grove or a Quiet «Human Hive»: How People Live in Kemerovo«s Most Dormitory Microdistrict;

• »The Floor Was All Rotten«: How One of the Oldest Houses in Kemerovo Lives — It Was Declared Emergency After an Appeal to Putin;

• Among Neighbors — the Governor: How People Live in a Cozy and Very Closed Residential Complex in Kemerovo;

• Life in the Barracks of Kemerovo: Among Rats, Dogs, and Drug Addicts — a Report from Stroigorodok;

• A Cozy »Human Hive« or Beautiful Emptiness: How People Live in a Young Microdistrict of Kemerovo, Where You Can»t Just Drive In.