Sokol, a former socialist collective, is making way for new development. And the keyword is new, as in New Russian.

Before

After

The original dachas, built in 1923, were designated by Lenin as a kind of intellectuals’ thinkpark, the way we now have industry parks. 113 wooden homes were laid out in tree-lined streets by famous architects of the era - including Alexei Shchusev, who later designed Lenin’s mausoleum. Hasn’t been a great time for Shchusev, who only recently lost his Moskva Hotel to the wrecking ball.

Problem is, this idyllic timepiece in Sokol is just six miles from central Moscow. And you really can’t have elitny bandits squeezed up in grey apartments, with no driveways to park their 4×4s. The protests of everyone from art historians to local peasants - many of whom are third generation residents of Sokol - have been met with price gazumping and bulldozers at dawn. The buildings are officially listed, but of course it depends which official you talk nicely to.

I wondered about the 113 homes. Were there only 113 intellectuals in Lenin’s Moscow? It’s always possible, since John Nicholson claims that a Moskvich has always been an entrepreneur, whereas the St. Petersburger is a true intellectual. In St. Petersburg, the woman sweeping the yard will stop to discuss French impressionist film-making, while her Moskvich counterpart will be running three semishki businesses and a Tochka on the side.

According to the Indystar, the tranquil, chestnut-lined avenues will soon be cordoned with electric fences, bodyguards and Dobermans. Sounds like the perfect venue for drive-by killings.