Kharkivskyi Masyv

Kharkivskyi neighborhood, in Kiev, Ukraine, often referred to as Kharkivskyi masyv (Ukrainian: Харківський масив) was first developed between the mid 1980s and early 1990s as an expansion of the Darnytsia neighborhood of the city. The name is rather symbolic than historic: it simply indicates that the area lies on route to the city of Kharkiv.

Formal subordination

It should be noted that the neighborhood has been a part of the Kharkivskyi Raion (administrative district) of the city until 2004, along with the neighboring areas called Osokorky, Poznyaky, Bortnychi and Chervony Hutir - which was and is a little ambiguous. Now all these neighborhoods are included in the Darnytsia Raion.

Architecture and infrastructure

Located on the south end of the Dnieper river's left bank, the Kharkivskyi was constructed following similar apartment block plans as the Obolon district. The very same method of sand-depositing was used to level and elevate the low-land meadows. The neighborhood has many lakes and the beaches are a popular attraction. However, the trees are rare and weak (because of the sand soil) despite intensive efforts of the residents.

Originally located relatively far from the metro, the neighborhood was not seen as prestigious, but the long waiting lines for apartments caused very fast settlement. At the time of initial development, the area contained relatively tall buildings, anywhere from nine to sixteen stories.

In the early to mid-1990s, the metro has been extended to better cover the neighbourhood. Osokorky (Ukrainian: Осокорки) station was opened in 1992 and Kharkivska (Ukrainian: Харківська) station was opened in 1994 [1].

Like in other areas of Kiev, additional development began in the Kharkivskyi in 2000. Modern, Western-style apartment buildings were built around the lakes, usually further towards the south and east ends of the neighborhood. The prestige of the area was also increased with the opening of the shops, restaurants and bars on and around the lakes as well as on the ground floors of apartment buildings. The metro is being extended deeper into the neighborhood, with new Boryspilska station opened in 2005. 2 more stations to be opened in 2006 and a new line (Livoberezhna, Ukrainian: Лівобережна) to be constructed in 2010 to 2015.

Economy

Kharkivskyi is a "bedroom" area specially designed as such. Respectively, the only businesses found there are retail and entertainment, with no industry present.