Residents of the famous 'Three Bogatyrs' residential complex in Almaty have taken to the streets over demolition work in the former Iskra cinema located directly beneath it. According to them, the buildings have been shaking for almost a month due to heavy machinery operating there. They now fear that workers may damage load-bearing elements and the buildings may not hold. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Previously, a fitness center operated in the former cinema premises, and it did not cause residents any particular problems. Everything changed about three weeks ago. At first, people thought that after the gym closed, equipment was simply being dismantled and the premises prepared for renovation.
But then the buildings began to shake. Several times residents even mistook the vibration for an earthquake. When they realized that the tremors were not coming from underground but from the basement, they went down to see what was happening. There they saw heavy machinery and workers dismantling concrete beams and other elements that support the building.
Arsen Tatayev has lived on the 12th floor since 2000. He says he never used to worry about the building during earthquakes: it was specially designed with seismic resistance in mind back in Soviet times. Now, according to him, the vibration from the work is felt from the first to the last floor.
'This is one of the most stable buildings in Almaty. Every detail here is calibrated; if you don't touch the foundation, the complex would stand for a very long time. But they (the workers – Ed.) are disrupting its structure with their work. Before this, I never worried about the seismic resistance of the complex,' says Arsen.
Currently, concrete is constantly being removed from the premises. According to Tatayev, workers have already reached the rebar, and heavy machinery continues to operate inside. What frightens him most is not even the noise, but that all this is happening literally under residential apartments.
'I fear for my neighbors, for my children. The workers are hammering everything with a tractor. When every resident feels a mini-earthquake, it is a clear impact on load-bearing structures. This is very dangerous,' says Arsen.
At the same time, residents claim that no one warned them in advance about the future climbing wall and the demolition being carried out beneath the building for it. When they tried to sort things out, they were merely shown documents according to which the premises are supposedly considered a separate building.
Irina Shmalko, chairwoman of the homeowners' association, says this came to light several years ago. During a legal dispute with the former owner of the premises (where the fitness center then operated), residents were shown a 2017 conclusion from KazNIISA. In it, the former Iskra is listed as a separate building. Now the lawyers of the current owner of the premises refer to the same document (and only by phone; they have never met in person).
'The owner who bought it now argues that the basement is supposedly a standalone building and says it has nothing to do with us. Although all communication passes through our building. How can it be a separate building when they are literally under our buildings,' says Shmalko.
Meanwhile, the situation in the courtyard reached the police. When residents gathered near the former cinema to sort out what was happening, someone (apparently workers) called a patrol. The police officer first tried to understand what the problem was, listened to the residents and promised to look into it, asking everyone to disperse.
And directly above the premises of the future climbing wall is the Museum of Archaeology. Its employees also feel it when heavy machinery operates below. According to Anarali Abuov, caretaker of the Institute of Archaeology and the museum, noise and vibration interfere with employees' work. And if you look closely, you can notice that in places the plaster on the walls has crumbled and cracks have appeared.
'During the tractor's operation, I felt as if the building was being lifted and lowered, that was the feeling. Of course, it interferes with work. There is noise, and we have research work to do,' said Abuov.
We tried to find out who is currently handling the premises of the former cinema. A lawyer from the LLP carrying out the work was supposed to come to the residents, but never showed up. At the same time, residents and the HOA chairwoman say the company avoids communicating with them. After promising to come, its lawyer also stopped answering calls.
Meanwhile, the Almaty Department of Urban Development Control commented on the situation very briefly:
'An unscheduled inspection is being initiated for the facility. We will report additionally based on its results.'
The 'Three Bogatyrs' residential complex appeared in Almaty in 1970–1971 during the reconstruction of what was then Lenin Avenue (today Dostyk Avenue). Three 12-story towers were united by a common stylobate, and a metal frame was made between them that connects the buildings to each other and helps distribute seismic loads.
In the lower part of the complex, the Iskra cinema was located from the very beginning. It opened in 1973 and had two halls with 330 seats each. Above the cinema were the Museum of Archaeology and the Institute of Archaeology. Later, Iskra closed, and its premises began to be used for other needs, including a fitness center.
Now one can only hope that the work in the basement of 'Three Bogatyrs' will not affect the stability of the building. It is still unclear how this will end and what consequences the demolition directly under residential buildings may lead to.