Paramonov Warehouses


The Paramonov Warehouses was a nineteenth century complex of storage facilities in Rostov-on-Don. It is located on the banks of the Don River between Sokolova avenue and Universitetskaya alley. It is a monument of federal importance.

History

The oldest building of the Paramonov Warehouses was built in the middle of the 19th century and the last one was built in the end of the 1890s. Warehouses were built by engineers Yakunin and E. Shulman. During its lifetime warehouses belonged to various owners and companies, but urban legend is still attribute them to their one owner, famous grain-industrialist Elpifidor Paramonov.
Warehouses miraculously escaped destruction from bombardments of port during the Great Patriotic War. Although one air bomb hit it, breaking the water-cooling system. Warehouses were subjected to the most significant destruction during its abandoned existence. Warehouses survived not less than five fires. During the last days of USSR warehouses were used as intended directly, they were stored cement, building materials, etc.
In 1985 the Paramonov Warehouses were assigned status of historical and cultural monument of local importance. Later the historical monument acquired status of monument of federal importance.

Architectural features

Laconic brick décor with motives of Romanesque architecture and classicism was used in styling of buildings of the Paramonov Warehouses.
Engineers Yakunin and E. Shulman intelligently and gracefully used the unique natural ability of this place – springs, which are welling out from the Don River's coastal slope all the year round. Engineers collected spring water in chutes and passed these chutes through storage facilities. Water's temperature in springs of the Paramonov Warehouses is constantly +9 °C during the winter and the summer. This system of chutes maintained reduced temperature in warehouses, which was conductive for storaging grains.
Round apertures are still remained in interfloor space on front of waherouses. They were used to forward grains through tarpaulin sleeves from second floors to the embankment's level. From there grains would be transhipped to barge and sent abroad.

Current state

All buildings of the Paramonov Warehouses are currently representing ruins decorated with lakes and waterfalls of spring water, which is still welling out from the Don River’s coastal slopes. Because of the constant temperature, own microclimate on ruins of the Paramonov Warehouses was formed: green grass grows there almost all the year.
In June 2011, on local enthusiasts’ iniative a cleaning litter activity “Augean stables” was conducted on the Paramonov Warehouses. Legislative Assembly of the Rostov Region did not support the activity, considering this work illegal, but pop singer Natalya Vetlitskaya supported it.
Storage of litter and domestic waste on the monument's territory still continues to this day. In June 2012, Kirovsky district court of Rostov-on-Don satisfied regional Assistant Attourney's plaint to district ministry of culture and several other organisations, in which Assistant Attourney requested to develop a project of protection zones of monument of cultural legacy "The Paramonov Warehouses" and to set informational signs on it. Ministry of Culture of the Rostov Region tried to appeal this decision, but in August 2012 full court of civil affairs of Rostov regional court left the appeal without satisfaction.
In December 2013, Ministry of property of the Rostov Region approved the project of development and reconstruction of the Paramonov Warehouses. The project of reconstruction was developed by one of the Moscow architect bureaus. According to this project, during the reconstruction of the Paramonov Warehouses all buildings will be saved and the centre of contemporary art will appear on the territory.
On 23 December 2015 it was leaked out that the Paramonov Warehouses might be completely demolished and then rebuilt again. In doing so, the new object would lose natural basin. This was announced by the head of city administration Sergey Gorban on regional organizing committee's meeting on preparation to World Cup 2018: "Conducted expertise showed that all building are in alarm condition and are liable to dismantling and reconstruction. Herewith the bath preservation is not planned".
On evening of 28 January 2016, a message spread in social medias which said that the famous bath on the Paramonov Warehouses no longer exists. The proof of it was a video in which it is seen that the basin have been dismantled slowly and safely.
The administration of Rostov-on-Don made a comment on situation of the Paramonov Warehouses, beginning their story with prehistory of events.
«In the beginning of December 2015 the conference was held in Kirovskaya administration in the presence of regional head, his assistants, representative of law-enforcement agencies and persons in charge of PVT "Alliance-M" – the company leasing the warehouses.
It was said on conferences that local residents were constantly complaining of binges, brawls and robberies of naval school's students made by warehouses’ "guests", Besides, it was pointed out to the alarm condition of object and the quality of water – according to the conclusion of SES, the water was not suitable for drinking or bathing.
As a result, participants of conference came to general consensus: to let out water from unauthorized basin and to rail off building of the Paramonov warehouses for citizens’ safety.
Deadline was also set – before 15 December, however PVT „Alliance-M“ met half-way with public and gave the opportunity to celebrate the holiday of Baptism with guarding of Kirovskaya OVD. As of today, water is let out from building, barriers were set all around. Entrance to the Paramonov Warehouses will be closed», as said in official message of department of information policy of Rostov-on-Don's administration.
The Paramonov Warehouses located on Beregovaya street is one of the most discussed objects in Rostov-on-Don. Society and bureaucracy are permanently exchanging allegations relating to the future of the warehouses.
Reconstruction of storage facilities was conducted by PVT «Alliance-M». Lease for a period of 45 years between company and the owner of the Paramonov Warehouses was concluded in the end of 2013. Grand total of planned investments is 1 billion 240 million rubles.
Company director Vladimir Bondarenko said that in place of ramshackle warehouses there can appear several hotels, concert and exhibition hall, spa complex with apartments and restaurant complex.
According to concept which investor declared, two left warehouses should be reconstructed into hotels with apartments on upper floors with the view from the window on Don River. Building where rivers flowed and citizens bathed was planned to be made into spa complex with hothouses and restaurants should have been placed in front of them. Building of the most farthest warehouse, which preserved better than others, was suggested to be made into a multifunctional concert hall. It was planned to arrange a two-storied parking and technical zone under the whole complex of the Paramonov Warehouses.
Auction for sale of the Paramonov Warehouses is appointed on 31 Jule 2017. Starting price is 8,8 million rubles, which is comparable to the cost of one-room flat in Moscow.

The Paramonov Warehouses in cinema