The Okhta Center, a 400-meter skyscraper to be built by Gazprom Neft in St. Petersburg, was approved by the city’s commission on construction, Deputy Governor Roman Filimonov said.
“Today, during the session of the commission, we have prepared a positive decision regarding the issue of Okhta Center,” he said Thursday.
The commission’s report will serve as a recommendation and the final decision to allow Gazprom to build the skyscraper, which exceeds the city center’s 100-meter height limit, will be made by St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matvienko.
“Now everything depends on Valentina Ivanovna — whether she will sign it or not,” said Sergei Malkov, a deputy of the St. Petersburg legislative council.
Matvienko is a chief advocate of the project. UNESCO has threatened to remove St. Petersburg from the UN World Heritage list if the tower is built.
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