Residents of low-rise neighborhoods in Almaty claim that city officials are lobbying for the interests of developers under the guise of urban development, reports Todayinfo.
Tensions are rising in the southern capital over an updated General Plan that re-zones several low-rise microdistricts for high-rise construction. Residents believe that authorities are prepared to demolish entire neighborhoods, destroying the organic fabric of Almaty life.
Areas slated for demolition or potential high-rise development include the Tastak, Kairat, Mayak, Almas, Terekty, Ozhet, and Madeniet microdistricts, among others. Additionally, some plots are subject to compulsory acquisition for state needs, such as building road interchanges or social facilities.
Recently, the Nauryzbay district, particularly the Kalkaman, Meiram, and Zhaiyly microdistricts, became a focal point of the conflict. Residents held a meeting to record an appeal to the akim, the government, and the president, demanding a revision of the General Plan to preserve their areas for individual housing construction.
"When we bought plots here and built our homes, no one told us we would be demolished. We invested huge amounts of money, expecting that generations of our families would live here," the citizens expressed their anger.
Representatives from the akimat and the General Plan developers responded that the city is growing and needs to accommodate newcomers, making the preservation of individual housing in a large metropolis impractical. They added that the plan has already been approved after public hearings and expert reviews, and can only be overturned in court.
