Sochi plans 49-year lease of Spartak complex land for 400 million rubles

The author of the Telegram channel «Sochi: Then and Now» noted that the sports complex «Spartak», or rather the land beneath it, is set to be leased for 49 years. The abandoned complex is located in a picturesque area on the banks of the Sochi River. Currently, it is likely living out its final days. Yet, back in 2014, it was a luxurious five-hall sports and wellness center. It opened on February 24, 1984, and construction cost 1.5 million rubles (approximately $15,000 at current rates).

— It was not just a building, but an entire sports universe: five specialized halls for gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, and games. A hall with stands for 300 seats. A stadium with a football field, running tracks, and stands for 4,500 spectators. Its own hotel with 250 beds. «Spartak» hosted competitions at all levels, from local to national, but most importantly, it instilled a love of sports and healthy living in tens of thousands of Sochi children, writes the Telegram channel author.

In 2014, a fire broke out at the sports complex. The building was gutted, leaving dozens of municipal sports sections without a venue. At the time, authorities promised to restore the complex, but now only ruins remain, which are likely to be demolished soon. The plot, covering 32,427 square meters (more than 320 hundredths), was registered in the cadastre in 2005. Today, this land, once owned by trade unions, is listed in advertisements. The lot is priced at 400 million rubles (approximately $4 million at current rates) for a 49-year lease.

— The advertisements mysteriously omit the exact address, but the cadastral map does not lie: this is indeed the land of «Spartak». It is hard to shake off the thought that we are observing a well-oiled scheme: municipal land obtained for good purposes is later converted into cash. The history of «Spartak» is a sad illustration of this pattern. First a fire, then years of neglect, and now — the sale of a prime plot in the city center, the message states.

Sochi residents still hope for a positive outcome — that «Spartak» will be rebuilt and restore the city«s sporting glory. But most likely, we will soon see apartments for sale in another »five-star« hotel rising in the scenic riverside location.