The Novosibirsk mayor’s office is engaged in a legal battle to reclaim land occupied by the unfinished Soho Pool Club, a thermal complex near Bugrinskaya Grove. The city seeks to have the structure demolished, citing stalled construction and investor reluctance due to ongoing litigation.

The dispute centers on a plot along the Ob River, where entrepreneur Dmitry Kotov began building the Soho Pool Club four years ago. The project, envisioned as a year-round recreational facility with pools, saunas, and entertainment areas, was intended to capitalize on the closure of the city beach due to bridge construction.

Kotov secured a joint use agreement with the city, planning for the mayor’s office to operate the complex and share revenue. However, construction halted in 2022 due to funding issues with foreign investors, compounded by subsequent bankruptcy proceedings against Kotov’s Transport Agency, the project’s customer.

The city’s initial lawsuit demanded the removal of the Snowtubing project, retaining wall, piles, metal bathtubs for pools, and other structures within 45 days. Kotov argued that the agreement was valid until 2031, construction deadlines were not set, and the winter attraction had been transferred to the city. The court initially ruled in favor of Kotov, stating that the company did not violate the agreement and that the complex was included in the bankruptcy estate.

The mayor’s office filed another lawsuit against Transport Agency for violating the lease agreement and vacating the site, with the regional prosecutor’s office involved. A hearing is scheduled for June 26, and the key issue revolves around whether the facility can be classified as a capital construction, which is prohibited in park territories.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Soho Pool Club was included in the Central Bank’s register of companies with signs of a financial pyramid in 2022. Bankruptcy trustee Evgeny Lelyaev noted that creditor claims against Transport Agency amount to 97.1 million rubles, and the sale of the complex is on hold until the legal issues are resolved.

The mayor’s office is emphasizing the importance of the land for the development of a large park called “Ust-Tula,” which will connect Arena Park and Bugrinskaya Grove. Kotov claims that the litigation is deterring potential investors, jeopardizing the project’s completion.