Recently, the mayoral candidates of large European and American cities discussed their cities’ problems and how to solve them. Town planners and mayors studied the work of Canadian Jane Jacobs, who wrote the book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” in 1961. In it, she upholds the idea of compact urban planning in large cities. A violation of these rules, she argued, creates ghetto­like conditions.

The situation in Kyiv is one that needs discussion and below I propose ways that Kyiv can become a great city. In reality, this beautiful city has a lot of problems. Taking into consideration that the city is not poor, it’s difficult to understand why these problems remain unsolved.

Dear candidates, I suggest:

1. Begin the land auctions. Land is the most valuable asset in the Ukrainian capital. The sale of allotments to the buyer who offers the highest price will increase revenues to the city budget. 

Today the price for a hectare of Kyiv land in communities just outside the city starts at $1 million. In the city’s center ,one hectare costs many millions of dollars. During Oleksandr Omelchenko’s mayorship, land was controlled by Kyiv city deputies. And they gave the land to themselves or to related firms for much less than the market price.

Land auctions will direct great money flows to the city budget. In such a situation, it would make no sense for many deputies to remain in Kyiv city. C’est la vie.

The inaccessibility of lands for thousands of potential builders leads to the absence of competition in the city and explains why the city is so expensive. This is why supermarkets can charge 50 percent more, and why a limited number of proper hotels charge twice as much for the same hotel in Germany and Belgium, and building companies have unclear profit margins. There is no competition.

Officials from the Lviv City Administration told me that in their city, auctions have been taking place for a long time, and rental auctions have been taking place too. Follow their example. 

2. Fix traffic. Charge a tax on cars entering the city. Everybody who lives in Kyiv understands that more cars will lead the capital to collapse in several years. In Moscow, the opportunity was missed and the collapse has already begun.

The only way to escape the traffic jams is to limit the traffic. Nothing else will help. An entrance fee to the center, or expensive parking, would ease the bottlenecks that have become part of Kyiv’s daily life. Barcelona, Rome, New York and many other cities have already passed this stage. Even bank vice presidents cannot afford to drive to the office and are forced to take public transportation.

The expansion of city streets is not the solution and only encourages more people to get out on the roads.

The traffic congestion is also an environmental problem. The air quality index in Kyiv is the same as Moscow’s in 2004, and it’s not an example to emulate.

It’s possible to lower the traffic flow in the city by building beltways, or ring roads. Recently, officials began to talk about the necessity of a third ring road in the city. And Kyivans were surprised by the fact that they already have two ring roads. In reality, the only such road is a semi­ring, from Borschahivka to Obolon.

3. Develop public transportation. Kyiv inherited an excellent subway from the USSR, but it needs further development. Yes it is expensive, but funds could be found if we implement step one. 

Subway development should be paralleled with land transport development. In Berlin, London and other European capital,s the time­table at the bus stops hangs by the minute. For example, the next bus comes at 12:37. And they always come on time. On Saksahansoho Street, there should be separate bus lanes closed to other vehicles. 

4. Raise fares. Keeping the 50 kopek fare smacks of communism. The subway fare in Moscow is equivalent to 4 hryvnias, in Berlin to 30 hryvnias, and in London to 50 hryvnias. 

Of course in Kyiv, the subway fare shouldn’t be that high, but it’s time to raise the price to one hryvnia. 

5. Buy new trams. If we want to change Kyiv into a modern European city, we must change the trams. It’s not necessary to buy the ultramodern Swiss trams. Luhanskteplovoz make fine models and can modernize Kyiv’s tram system from 1968 to 2008. Give the current trams to the Pompidou museum. They will thank you. 

6. Move the industrial zones out of the city. Tear the abandoned plants, dilapidated warehouses and other awful Soviet boxes in the center of our capital. This is a waste of space and could be sold and turned into commercial space. For example, near the docks between Podil and Obolon, one more Podil can be built.

7. Demolish the Khrushchevky. City officials have been talking about this forever. It is necessary to demolish these old and dilapidated buildings and build new modern ones. In Moscow, the demolishing of so­called “dilapidated dwellings” is almost complete. In Kyiv, the process hasn’t yet begun.

8. Build a second incinerator. Inhabitants of Kharkiv district where the first one was placed will thank you.

9. Build leisure parks. On the weekend, there is not much to do in a city of 3 million people, besides going to the movies, bowling, shopping or bars. Offer investors development projects that would give people more options. For example, an aquapark like the one in  Zakopane, Poland that can hold thousands of visitors, or a large covered skating rink and entertainment park for grown­ups and children on Trukhaniv Island. Kyiv needs a modern park which almost every European country has.

10. Encourage style. Commission young designers and architects to design buildings and parks in and around the city. Bring in modern art. Grey panel buildings can be painted as in Berlin.

Source: http://kyivpost.com