Tverskoy District residents baffled by frequent curb changes

It is in Tverskoy District that the heart of Russia and the most central point of Moscow — the Kremlin — are located. Along streets whose names are familiar to everyone — Tverskaya, Nikolskaya, Neglinnaya, Petrovka, and others — crowds of foreigners stroll daily. A bit further from tourist spots, closer to Novoslobodskaya metro station and Savyolovsky Railway Station, in cozy old houses and more modern high-rises, ordinary citizens live quietly, fortunate to have apartments near Moscow«s main attractions.

MSK1.RU continues the series of reports from our ongoing project on life in the capital, «Moscow District by District,» and looks at how Tverskoy District lives.

While Red Square is accessible to all, getting behind the Kremlin wall requires purchasing a special ticket. Inside the Kremlin, visitors stroll through the Taynitsky Garden, the Grand Kremlin Square, Cathedral Square, and admire the country«s most important palaces and churches.

Events in Tverskoy District often become the most discussed news in the media. For example, the snow «Miuskaya Duna» (Mius Dune), which drew public attention a couple of weeks ago. But now the snowdrifts have been cleared, and no one remembers it.

Walking along Tverskaya Street and examining the numerous bas-reliefs commemorating famous residents of majestic houses, one can notice how some passersby react displeasedly to the camera. It feels that all this tourist curiosity has rather annoyed them. And if you find yourself on the non-parade side of the street, then, as in any other courtyard, you can see endless fences and gates.

A rather bustling and interesting place is Tverskaya Zastava Square, which offers a beautiful view of Belorussky Railway Station on one side, and on the other, the skyscrapers of the business center «Belaya Ploshchad» (White Square). Recently, it was also talked about in the press — it was reported that the owner sent letters to tenants raising rental prices. For many companies, the new terms turned out to be unaffordable, so they started looking for other options and vacating offices.

Opposite the business center «Belaya Ploshchad» (White Square) is the entrance to the house where journalist Anna Politkovskaya lived and was murdered in 2006. Very recently, a memorial plaque was installed here in her memory.

Walking further along Lesnaya Street, one can see an architectural monument of constructivism — the Zuev House of Culture, which clearly catches the eye!

Also clearly visible is the grim five-story building of the Psychiatric Hospital, located on the territory of the pretrial detention center «Butyrka».

Around Mendeleevskaya and Novoslobodskaya metro stations, it«s always bustling. There are many cafes, coffee shops, and bars where students spend their time.

If you stroll deep into the district, you«ll feel a completely different Moscow — cozy, unhurried, where you can peacefully walk from courtyard to courtyard and not encounter a single fence.

«We moved here in the 80s and we really like it,» says local resident Olga Arkadyevna. «Everything is close by! We»re glad that our house wasn«t included in the renovation program! We wouldn»t want, after living our whole lives in the center, to end up somewhere in New Moscow near Kaluga Oblast.«

According to the woman, the main drawback of living in central Moscow is the lack of normal grocery stores.

«To the nearest one, you need to walk about 15 minutes,» the woman noted. «There are many elderly people in the district.»

There is also something that surprises Tverskoy District residents:

«We still don»t understand why they change the curbs so often!« laughs Olga Arkadyevna. »Practically every summer. We joke: these curbs are from the old collection, and those over there are from the new one.«

Earlier, we reported on how the prestigious Moscow district of Khamovniki lives, where the former apartment of Larisa Dolina is located, which buyer Polina Lurie recently obtained through the court. And we also wrote about life in the city of Elektrostal, where a young man was stabbed.