The process is still ongoing, — Sienkevych explains why Mykolaiv has not yet acquired a historic tram substation

The building of the first tram substation, photo: «NikVesti»

The mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, said that the city has not yet purchased the historic tram substation, as it is still waiting for the necessary documents from the seller.

He said this in a comment to NikVesti.

As you know, in March 2025, the deputies of the Mykolaiv City Council decided to approve the intention to purchase the architectural monument «Tram substation» of 1913-1914, which is located at 8a Soborna Street.

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«We are waiting for information from the seller, they want to make an assessment. The process is still ongoing. We have agreed and are ready to allocate funds. We are waiting for all the documents from the seller,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

History of the first tram substation in Mykolaiv

As you know, the first tram substation in Mykolaiv was built in the early 20th century. In the 1970s, they tried to demolish the building to widen Lenin Avenue (now Tsentralnyi Avenue — ed.) and build an underpass.

However, thanks to the efforts of local architects and activists, including architect Olha Popova, the building was preserved and included in the list of architectural monuments. In 1973, the building received a new use — a cafe «Sadko» was opened in it.

In the early 2000s, the building attracted the attention of Serhii Prudkyi, director of the Mykolaiv branch of «Aval», who initiated the placement of a bank branch within its walls. After reconstruction, the building was purchased and adapted for a new use.

The building of the power substation. Photo: Mykolaiv Regional Archive

Sale of a historic building on Soborna Street

As you know, on 9 February, the building of the first tram substation at 8a Soborna Street was put up for sale with a starting price of just 3.5 million hryvnias.

The building at 8a Soborna Street in Mykolaiv. Photo from the National Electronic Exchange website

The building at 8a Soborna Street in Mykolaiv. Photo from the website of the National Electronic Exchange

The building at 8a Soborna Street in Mykolaiv. Photo from the website of the National Electronic Exchange

At the time, according to the head of Mykolaiv's Department of Culture, Yurii Liubarov, the owner of the building approached the mayor's office with a proposal to purchase the building before the auction was announced, but Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych refused, citing a lack of funds.

Subsequently, NikVesti asked Serhii Prudkyi, an honorary citizen of Mykolaiv and member of the executive committee, who was once a bank director and bought the building for «Aval», what he thought about the possibility of the city buying the property. He replied that the Department of Culture should now look for opportunities to purchase the building for 3.5 million hryvnias in order to preserve the architectural monument for the people of Mykolaiv.

In particular, Tetiana Dombrovska, a member of the Mykolaiv City Council and head of the «Servant of the People» faction, is of the opinion that the historic tram substation building on Soborna Street should be bought in the interests of the city community.

And Mykola Kapatsyna, co-owner of the shipyard «Ocean» and a member of the Mykolaiv City Council, said he was ready to allocate 1 million hryvnias to buy the building for the city along with others.

MP Artem Iliuk said that the city authorities should have involved the deputies in the purchase of the property.

At the same time, musician, volunteer and chairman of the supervisory board of the NGO «DOF» Volodymyr Aleksieiev supported the idea of raising 3.5 million hryvnias to buy the building of the first tram substation in the centre of Mykolaiv. He proposed to combine social and commercial uses in the building, which would bring benefits to the city and maintain the historic building.