Irkutsk is preparing for a major transformation of the center. In 2016, restoration of the Central Park staircase, improvement of public spaces, and renewal of the area near the Jerusalem church will begin.

The city administration has been planning since 2016 to radically transform the city center.
"Large-scale work to transform the central part of Irkutsk will begin with the restoration of the staircase of the Central Park on the side of Bortsov Revolyutsii Street. It is also planned to create so-called public spaces there," the mayor’s office reports, citing Dmitry Berdnikov.
It is noted that the appearance of the area near the Jerusalem Church will also change: according to the project developers’ plan, there will be recreation areas, green plantings, and a number of other facilities there.
According to the administration, work will also begin in 2016 within the boundaries of Timiryazeva, Karla Libknekhta, Gornaya, and Podgornaya streets on an area of 43 hectares. The mayor’s office plans a systematic reconstruction of architectural monuments, development with new buildings, and the creation of pedestrian zones and recreation areas.
"Along with this, the development of engineering infrastructure is also planned, the traffic scheme will change, and new pedestrian zones will be created. Multifunctional retail and hotel facilities will appear on the site of the former Chinese market. However, residential buildings will also be preserved, and they will be moved to a separate site," the mayor’s office clarified.
The entire project covers 11 blocks bounded by Kommunarov, Sedova, Timiryazeva, Karla Libknekhta, Gornaya, and Baikalskaya streets, as well as the boundary separating the development on Podgornaya St. from the Central Park of Culture and Recreation. All work is planned to be carried out within the framework of a public-private partnership.
"We have the example of the 130th quarter - a place that Irkutsk residents have already come to love and that has become a kind of calling card of the city. Our task is to put the city center in order and create comfortable places for Irkutsk residents to spend their leisure time," said the mayor.