Another architectural competition is to be held in Mykolaiv — this time for a tram substation building

The building of the first tram substation, which now houses a bank branch. Photo: NikVesti

In 2026, Mykolaiv plans to hold another architectural competition — this time for the building of a historic tram substation located at 8a Soborna Street.

According to the chief architect of Mykolaiv, Yevhen Poliakov, the final decision will be made after the city receives the property.

As you know, Raiffeisen Bank plans to complete the sale of the former tram substation building to the city of Mykolaiv by the end of this year.

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«Next year, we have planned to hold one tender (architectural). I don't know whether this management decision will be made or not. We expect, at least according to the news, that the city will take ownership of the monument located on Central Avenue, Soborna Street. If the bank gives us this monument, we may have an idea to look for the best proposal on how to use this territory. This object is small and I don't think there are many options,» said Yevрen Poliakov.

According to him, holding an architectural competition allows «to get unique concepts that cannot be bought on the market».

«An architectural competition is about finding the best solution. Architects do this together with a group, they can involve economists, technologists, landscape designers, and those who specialise in restoration work. And some ideas may be unique, which cannot simply be bought on the market for money. This requires competence, knowledge, creativity, and vision,» added Yevhen Poliakov.

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, — note) 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 National Electronic Exchange website

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 this building, which would bring benefits to the city and maintain the historic building.

Olena Kiseliova, the head of the «European Solidarity» party faction and the head of the Mykolaiv City Council's Standing Committee on Publicity, Legality and Deputy Ethics , independently drafted a decision to approve the intention to purchase the historic building for city ownership, and on 27 March it was finally submitted to the city council for consideration. City council members supported the decision with 32 votes.

Recently, on 14 November, it became known that Raiffeisen Bank plans to complete the sale of the former tram substation building to the city of Mykolaiv by the end of this year.