Narva hopes to restore part of its lost Old Town as detailed plan advances
Narva has approved a detailed plan aimed at bringing back part of the city's lost Old Town, with the next steps depending largely on investors. The plan will be publicly discussed in autumn and final approval is expected by the end of the year.
Narva has an opportunity to restore part of its lost Old Town after the city's detailed plan was approved. Much now depends on investors.
The planning work took nearly four years and is based on historical maps from 1927. It envisages restoring the alignment of Rüütli, Rahu, Pagari and Vahe streets. The goal is to bring back the historical structure of the Old Town while preserving its appearance and adapting the area to modern construction and maintenance requirements.
Opinions differ on the project's economic outlook. Real estate specialist Sergei Gorlach believes investors are unlikely to show interest, as every investor wants to recoup their money, but it is not clear when that could happen. He said Narva's property market does not yet create conditions for such investments, and even existing commercial premises in the Old Town do not always find new owners or tenants, making rapid returns difficult.
Former Narva mayor Katri Raik noted that the project will require significant investment, primarily due to archaeological research, but described the detailed plan as a necessary first step that opens the door for future investment. She added that 'crazy ideas always have a place' and the project could take 20, 30 or even 50 years.
Vadim Orlov, who initiated the idea of creating an old Narva quarter, is considerably more optimistic. He believes the new quarter could become not only a residential area but also one of the city's tourist attractions, and that developing the necessary infrastructure would help attract private investors. 'We don't want an open-air museum,' Orlov said. 'We want a modern 21st-century quarter where there is life, and we want to return the heart to Narva.'
The project is set to be submitted for public discussion in autumn, with final approval expected before the end of the year. While the first buildings are still a long way off, the document is now seen as a first concrete step toward restoring the city's historical character.
