Zoning Russian Style

The New York Times and BBC report that in spite of protests, Gazprom announced that it is determined to go-ahead with its Gazprom-City project on the Neva River in historic St. Petersburg. The winner of the design competition of the project should be announced shortly. While the supporters of the project hope to increase the economic profile of St. Petersburg, long in the shadow of Moscow, the political and business capital, its opponents point out the architectural incompatibility with the historic city of St. Petersburg. In all proposed designs, a high-rise tower of 300 meters (990 feet) dominates the project, and as it critics fear, will dominate the 18th and 19th Century skyline.