St. Petersburg is set to remove roughly 2,000 kiosks and pavilions from its streets as their lease agreements expire, aiming to enhance the urban environment. This initiative follows a review of over 4,000 proposals to exclude locations from the non-stationary retail facility (NTO) placement scheme, with half of the proposals receiving approval.

Currently, the NTO placement scheme encompasses more than 4,500 land plots, with over 3,000 of these plots being subject to lease or object placement agreements. The city believes that the current number of retail facilities exceeds the needs of the population, especially in areas already well-served by established shops.

Vice Governor Kirill Polyakov stated that kiosks are not in line with the vision of St. Petersburg and emphasized the city’s commitment to creating a comfortable urban environment. He highlighted that the removal of the kiosks is not a recent decision but part of an ongoing effort to improve the city’s aesthetics and functionality.

Polyakov noted that kiosks often disrupt the architectural harmony of the city and generate public complaints regarding service quality, sidewalk maintenance, and rental issues. He also pointed out the redundancy of kiosks in areas with ample retail options.

The focus will be on ensuring that essential goods are accessible in residential areas where residents may have to travel a distance to reach a store. The authorities question the necessity of kiosks on busy streets like Nevsky Prospect, especially considering the high volume of tourists and festive events held there. The removal of kiosks is seen as a step towards decluttering these prime locations and enhancing the overall experience for residents and visitors alike.