House of Alexandrova for one ruble: in Staraya Russa looking for an investor for an architectural monument of the XVIII century

In Staraya Russa, an object of cultural heritage known as the Alexandrova House was put up for auction. The starting price of the lot is a symbolic one ruble, but the new owner will undertake obligations to preserve and restore the architectural monument, the press service of the Ministry of Construction and Housing of the Novgorod region reported.

The historical building of the end of the XVIII century, which belonged to the late XIX - early XX century merchant Elizabeth Alexandrova, is located in a picturesque place on the banks of the Polist river. Investors are offered two non-residential premises with a total area of 498.1 square meters. Both blocks have separate entrances. The building requires major repairs, but all the communications necessary for commercial operation - electricity, water and heating - have already been completed.

According to the organizers of the auction, the historic walls open a wide space for business ideas. Given the tourist potential of Stara Russa, the most promising seems to be the creation of a mini-hotel or hostel here. Also, the premises are perfect for placing an office, commercial space, a creative cluster, a household service enterprise or a catering establishment.

According to the documents of the technical condition, the late brick extensions from the courtyard, the southeastern part of the main volume and the northern part of the southern wing of the building are in an emergency, partially ruined condition. That is, a future investor who paid a ruble for a historic building will have to seriously invest in emergency work and restoration.

A similar story occurred in September 2026 in Veliky Novgorod: for 1 ruble, the house of merchant Yakov Lebedev was put up there on T. Frunze Street - Olovyanka, 26/5. The area is 421 square meters. m, the status is a monument of regional importance, the condition is unsatisfactory, and the terms of restoration are limited to 2030. So the Alexandrova House is not an isolated case, but part of a general wave of sales of historic buildings for a symbolic price.