The "White Fortress" in the courtyard of "Arcadia" residential complex will be demolished. The owner revealed how his struggle ended

What does the unusual house look like now?

This elegant two-story white cottage looks uninhabited today. Windows are covered with blankets, the grass in the yard is uncut, and the paths are overgrown. During the construction of the residential complex, the private house ended up as if in a pit: from its yard, the gloomy walls of the neighboring underground parking, which were originally intended to be hidden, are clearly visible.

The estate's yard among the new buildings is deprived of its main feature — privacy, the usual "village" coziness. From the windows of the local high-rises, it is visible as if on the palm of your hand, and this is by no means a metaphor.

Despite the house being literally in plain sight, journalists could not get a clear answer from the residents of the residential complex as to whether anyone lives there. Some say that the house is definitely inhabited, "the light is often on there." Others assure that no, no one has been seen for a long time, and even mention a truck that allegedly moved things out.

Павялічыць

Only one resident of "Arcadia" told something definite:

— Last year, they planted a small garden near the house, but not this year. The woman who lived there in recent years told me that they were allocated a replacement house somewhere in the Karastayanova street area. But no finishing work was done there, so it's impossible to move in. And this cottage is now uninhabited.

Павялічыць

As a city resident, an Onlíner journalist inquired about the fate of the "White Fortress" on October 3 during a direct line with the administration of the Savetski district of Minsk. Alexander Lenka, deputy head of the administration, was brief but said the main thing:

— The people have been evicted, the house will be demolished.

What will be in its place (initially an underground parking lot was planned) was not specified by the interlocutor. But he noted that the stage of developing design and estimate documentation is currently underway.

Павялічыць

How did the cottage end up squeezed between high-rises in the first place?

To properly understand this story, we need to go back in time and recall the main facts.

In Minsk, during the 2000s, a developer named "Tambaz" operated. Not far from the intersection of Bogdanovicha and Nekrasova streets, the company planned a large-scale project — the "Arcadia" residential complex with a high density of development, as was fashionable in those years. From 2008, private houses began to be demolished for future new buildings. Most of the estate owners agreed to move into the offered replacement apartments, but in several cottages, they did not accept the developer's valuation and began demanding market price compensation.

As a result, these "fortress" houses were engulfed for many years in construction dust and legal proceedings.

The owners of the cottage on Bogdanovicha Street eventually found a compromise with "Tambaz," and that estate was demolished in 2014. But the story of the "White Fortress," located in the center of the block, turned out to be much more complicated.

Павялічыць

In 2015, Valentin, the owner of this house, told journalists that the initial valuation, in his opinion, was only 40% of the house's real value. The family's main demand at that time was:

— We do not want monetary compensation; we do not want apartments in high-rises. By law, we have the right and insist on being provided with an equivalent residential house. It can be in the suburbs, but with the same plot of land. My father built this house with his own hands; representatives of four generations of our family lived here. There are eight of us, and we still want to live together. We don't need innovations. Build exactly the same house, with the same layout and finishing — and we will be satisfied.

After surviving several court cases, the parties almost reached an agreement, but then many things went wrong. In 2017, the construction of the last "Arcadia" houses stopped, and at the end of that year, the general director of the company was detained for misuse of funds. This drama included both a long-term construction project and loud video appeals from equity holders — a classic set of failed projects.

"Tambaz" went bankrupt, so the object was completed by "UKB Sovetsky District of Minsk" (Capital Construction Department of the Savetski District of Minsk). The last long-suffering house of this residential complex was commissioned as late as 2022.

The owner of the "White Fortress" now: "We were evicted in March, through court"

The same Valentin, in the autumn of 2026, is already the former owner of the defiant cottage. He tells Onlíner:

— We were evicted in March, through court decisions and OPV (referring to the enforcement authorities. — Onlíner's note). Today, I am deprived of the right to reside there.

They made a closed entrance to the yard, put a lock. This is no longer my territory.

Павялічыць

Was it possible to achieve any compensation?

— Our rights have been partially realized. In 2018, "Tambaz" bought an old house in Starozhovka, demolished it, and built a new one — for us. It's not just similar to our previous house; it's made exactly one-to-one.

It turns out that the man was indeed able to get a cottage in Minsk instead of an apartment for the lost house.

— But the provided apartment in the blocked house is without interior finishing. The developer didn't have time to do it. There's a roof, exterior doors, windows, but inside it's empty, without floors or doors. It's impossible to live there.

We registered ownership of the new house. We concluded an additional agreement with "Tambaz" to the compensation agreement — for repairs. At one point, hoping greatly for this payment, we, at our own expense, connected utilities to the house, as there was no water supply, electricity, or gas.

But then everything went wrong again. "Tambaz" went bankrupt, did not fully realize our rights, and the company left with such debts that it's scary to name these figures.

Valentin's ownership rights to the old house were terminated after the documents for the new one were processed. By the way, on the public cadastral map, the land plot at house 18, Exkavatornaya Street (the cottage itself on the plan is in the shape of a gray letter G) is no longer выделен as a separate one; it is part of the territory allocated for construction. It is indicated that the boundaries of the land plots changed in 2019.

— When the decree on the completion of the residential complex was issued, they tried to evict us for a very long time, but the court sided with us. We no longer had ownership rights, but we had the right to reside in the old house until our rights were fully realized.

But then the lawyers of the respected Capital Construction Department of the Savetski District of Minsk found a loophole in the legislation that allowed us to be removed from there.

— What's the nuance?

— The nuance is that we, not being owners, hinder the Capital Construction Department from using the land. And it turns out that no one is evicting us into an unfinished house, but simply evicting us into nowhere — without providing another living space.

The Capital Construction Department took the position that it has no relation to the realization of our property rights, and that it only needs to complete the residential complex.

And here, of course, we could not go against the law: indeed, according to the law, it turns out that our presence prevents the completion of the construction of this "Arcadia" and the parking lot. And the fact that our rights are not fully realized is irrelevant to everyone.

Valentin is convinced that the protection of the property rights of a relocated person is the responsibility of the body that confiscated the land, which are the local authorities. However, according to the former owner of the "White Fortress," the Minsk City Executive Committee is confident that this was the business of the construction company with which he signed the contract.

— We are trying to prove that since the respected company "Tambaz" failed to fulfill the instructions and decisions of the city executive committee, this necessity reverts to the body authorized by law to expropriate land.

The city executive committee has a different view on the matter. I am not losing hope; I am trying to negotiate with them. Time will tell how fruitful they will be, as this is not a matter of a single day or month.

If we don't agree (and most likely, we won't), we will continue to litigate. Everyone has their own truth, but the law is the law. Maybe the court will side with us again. I'm not going to give up.

But, frankly, I perfectly understand the city executive committee: our situation is very extraordinary.

— At this moment, your demand is only to do the finishing in that house, right?

— Yes, we want repairs, at least within the scope of typical consumer qualities. We need flooring, doors, sanitary equipment…

Valentin explains: in 2018, an estimate was drawn up for how much the finishing, similar to what was in the previous house, would cost. At that time, it would have been approximately 110-118 thousand rubles (equivalent to 55 thousand dollars). Recently, the owner ordered a new independent appraisal — now the amount has turned out to be higher, as materials and construction services have become more expensive over these years.

— We invited a commission from the administration of the Central District to the new house for the appraisal procedure, which recorded that everything was built, but the house is in the repair stage.

— Surely, over these years, you've expended so much effort and health on this struggle. Don't you think now that you should have agreed to what was offered from the very beginning?

— You know, in my childhood and youth, I was professionally involved in sports. I know that without a struggle, there is no victory; I'm not used to giving up, but I'm always ready for both defeat and victory.

I couldn't agree to "Tambaz's" initial offer — I have a higher economic education, I know how to calculate, especially since an independent appraisal had been conducted.

It must be understood that for Valentin, the story of the "White Fortress" is also a personal matter. After all, it is the house his father once built with his own hands.

— I was born there, grew up there; my children were born and grew up there, my grandchildren were born. Of course, leaving it was offensive and regrettable.

On the other hand, I understand that the city must develop. Look at how motley Selkhozposelok (a district name) is — there are such shacks there that the heirs haven't even hammered in a rusty nail.

But we reconstructed our house twice; it was solid. We didn't ask for money, didn't stand in lines, everything was earned through our own hard work: my parents and I. My children, thank God, are also not idle — they have already settled down and have their own housing.

But please write at the end of the article: the final point in this matter has not yet been set; the owner is full of strength and energy to continue fighting for his rights.

Onlíner sent inquiries to the Minsk City Executive Committee and "UKB Sovetsky District" requesting comments on the fate of the "White Fortress" and the future prospects of the site.

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