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On December 16, the strategic session “Yelets. People. Future” will be held at the Museum of Military Glory (81 Lenina St.). Federal and regional officials, along with experts in urban planning, the creative economy, architecture, and cultural heritage conservation, will participate. The session aims to introduce local business and expert communities, government representatives, and active citizens to the best practices in master planning and redevelopment in Russia.

Yelets has preserved a cohesive historical urban fabric, with 332 cultural heritage sites concentrated in a small area, 11 of which are of federal significance. Experts believe the city has substantial tourism potential. A special role among heritage assets is played by the former tobacco factory, built in the mid-19th century, which will be a key subject of discussion during the session.

A press briefing will begin at 11:00, featuring Senator Evgenia Uvarkina (representing the Lipetsk Region in the Federation Council), and Mayor of Yelets Evgeny Borovskikh, who will present development plans for the city.

The session will include a panel discussion titled “Current State, Challenges, and Prospects of the Yelets Urban District.” Mayor Borovskikh will outline the city’s socio-economic development strategy, while experts will share their views on the city’s identity, heritage conservation, tourism potential, and public spaces. Speakers include:
– Narine Tyutcheva, head of Re-School and RDNK Bureau, ICOMOS expert, MAAM professor
– Dmitry Solovyov, chief project architect at Samolet Group, co-founder of SAP.bureau
– Kirill Puzanov, associate professor at the Faculty of Urban and Regional Development, Higher School of Urban Studies named after A.Vysokovsky

The goal of the discussion is to consolidate efforts to develop a holistic vision for Yelets, preserving its uniqueness, unlocking its economic potential, and strengthening its appeal for residents and visitors.

The session will continue with a Round Table on “Best Master Planning Practices for Small Historic Towns.” Participants will explore effective tools based on real cases. Experts will present recent research, developments, and modern approaches to developing and preserving the historical identity of small Russian towns. The opening report will be delivered by Olga Gritsan, head of analytics at the “CENTER” Agency and a member of ISOCARP. Other speakers include:
– Yulia Stepantsova, sociologist (HSE), co-founder of Synopsis Group
– Alexander Ivakin, partner of the “Dal” project and organizer of “Dom vdali”
– Alexander Poduskov, Director for Development of Loft Projects at KR Properties
– Inna Krylova, historian, cultural theorist, and author of “MosPromArt”

Local government representatives, entrepreneurs, and active citizens are also invited.

The session will conclude with a Participatory Workshop engaging residents, experts, entrepreneurs, government representatives, and historians. The goal is to shape a community vision for the city’s future and identify key challenges and growth opportunities.

The insights gathered during the strategic session will be used to determine the direction for Yelets’ development and to prepare the Terms of Reference for the city’s master plan, aimed at integrated, balanced territorial development, attracting investment, and improving quality of life.

The strategic session is organized by the Strategic Development Agency “CENTER” (Moscow) with the support of the Lipetsk Region Government and the Yelets Administration.

Photo: Vladimir Shibaev / Lori Photo Bank