Almaty residents are locked in a heated debate over plans to build a cluster of skyscrapers around Sayran lake. The discussion has unfolded on social media, sparked in part by a Threads post that compared the project to Times Square because of its scale. The author of the post said the district needs parks, schools and spaces for young people rather than new business centers, according to infohub.kz.
Similar concerns have been raised about another construction site near Sayran. In August, a Threads post appeared about a residential complex being built roughly 30 meters from a 12-story building. In the comments, users pointed to the trees and the density of the development. Almaty's Department of Urban Development Control said no construction is underway at that address.
The idea of high-rise development in the Sayran area was discussed back in the summer as well. In July, Askhat Saduov, head of the Almatygenplan research institute, spoke about plans for a business center by the lake. According to him, mid-rise blocks should remain the backbone of Almaty, but a separate "downtown" with skyscrapers could be created in the Tastak area.
"The Japanese and the Americans have all the technology. They build freely in a nine-point seismic zone. So this is a question of technology, not just of height," the head of the institute said at the time.
Earlier, a mega-district called "Manhattan-Kazakhstan" worth up to $4 billion was planned near Sayran, but the project was never carried out. Only the Manhattan residential complex was built, while the business center was left unfinished. The abandoned building has already been demolished, meaning the site is most likely being prepared for a new project.
Kursiv LifeStyle previously reported that after complaints from residents of "Kompota," the idea of high-rise development was dropped from the general plan.