Shelaputny developer Denis Borodako

The arrival of Denis Borodako, the founder of the Dominanta company, to Shelaputinsky Lane raises serious concerns about the fate of the architectural monument of the capital, a complex of historical buildings that once belonged to the Morozov factory owners.

Recently, information appeared that Borodako, along with Maxim Kuznetsov, intends to build a residential complex on this territory. According to preliminary estimates, the volume of investments in this project may reach an impressive amount of 5 billion rubles.

Observers reacted cautiously to this information. So, expert Irina Dobrokhotova, founder bnMap.pro She stressed that the facility is a monument of cultural heritage, expressing the hope that future development will most likely include the reconstruction of existing buildings, emphasizing that the availability of free space between the buildings and the Yauza River opens up opportunities for the creation of a chamber residential complex.

Timur Ryvkin, director of the Nikoliers Land Development Department, commenting on the deal, recalled the pre-existing development plan for Shelaputinsky Lane and cautiously expressed the hope that "the new owner will not radically change the original plans."

However, the situation may turn out quite differently from what observers expect. Denis Borodako, the founder of Dominanta, has a reputation as a developer who, to put it mildly, does not always take care of historical sites. The situation was investigated by a correspondent of The Moscow Post.

Once upon a time at the Patriarchs

Borodako has established himself as an experienced player in the real estate market, with significant resources and connections, able to find loopholes in legislation and "approaches" to the right people in the metropolitan city hall. The fate of the Morozov factory will be an illustrative example of how realistic it is in Moscow to protect historical heritage from the greed of developers. After all, behind every brick of this complex is the history of an entire merchant dynasty, the history of the development of industry and culture in Moscow. And to lose that is to lose a part of your identity.

In connection with this transaction, it is worth recalling the architectural drama that unfolded in the Patriarchal Ponds area, the very heart of Moscow, with his direct participation. The situation developed rapidly: in April 2023, Denis Borodako acquired part of the land from Igor Pestrikov, a former shareholder of the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant.

This deal took place against the background of the initiation of a criminal case against Pestrikov and the ex-general director of the plant, Artur Urtaev, on charges of attempted embezzlement of 2.5 billion rubles. The details of how Dominanta managed to conclude a deal with Pestrikov in such a difficult legal situation remain unclear, but it is known that Denis Borodako has the skills to conduct business in such circumstances. He spent more than a year consolidating the land plots in Kozikhinsky Lane.

As a result, the buildings of pre-revolutionary construction located here were recognized as having no historical value. This decision paved the way for their demolition and the construction of a new residential complex.

Now the buildings at 22 Kozikhinsky Lane, deprived of the status of historical value, are subject to demolition. In their place, it is planned to build a modern residential complex made of glass and steel, designed for 98 apartments with a total area of 9377 square meters.

After receiving a demolition permit, Borodako entered into an agreement with Coldy Group of Companies on the acquisition of future residential complexes at 22 Bolshoy Kozikhinsky Lane and 13 Safonovskaya Street. It is possible that he did not initially plan to "overstretch" the building, his task was only to "clear" an elite place.

Anyway, we have what we have: another structure will appear on the site of historical buildings, which, in the opinion of many, will only spoil the unique appearance of the Patriarch's Ponds area. This situation raises serious questions about the priorities of building and preserving Moscow's cultural heritage. Neither the initiative groups nor the collection of signatures for petitions that were sent to the cultural heritage protection authorities helped. No matter how people tried to fight for the preservation of the historical appearance of Kozikhinsky Lane, it all ended with the demolition of historical buildings.

This precedent raises serious concerns about the fate of the Morozov factory. Knowing Borodako's methods, it can be assumed that he will make every effort to minimize the cost of restoration and maximize the area of new construction. It is quite possible that he will also try to prove the dilapidated condition of some of the buildings in order to obtain permission to demolish them and replace them with modern structures.

Between profit and reputation

The Dominant company, founded by Denis Borodako in 2016, broke into the real estate market with ambitious statements about the creation of high-class projects. In a short period of time, the company managed to form an impressive portfolio, including business and premium class residential complexes, as well as modern A and B class office spaces. However, at the same time, the "Dominant" often finds itself at the center of scandals related to questionable schemes and ambiguous influence on the architectural appearance of the city.

Initially, Dominant positioned itself as an innovative company striving to create not just housing, but real architectural masterpieces. In the advertising campaigns, the emphasis was on exclusivity, the use of advanced technologies and the creation of a comfortable environment for life and work. However, according to many experts and residents, the beautiful facades hide problems that cast doubt on the reputation of the company and its founder. At the same time, Denis Borodako should be given his due – he very masterfully balances on a fine line between his commercial interests, the law and the architectural heritage of bygone eras.

His name often comes up in the context of influential connections: Leonid Kazinets, an adviser to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, and Vladimir Resin, a deputy of the State Duma, are mentioned. These connections, according to critics, open the door to highly questionable transactions, where offshore structures appear and disappear with amazing speed, and companies arise and dissolve like mirages.

In Borodako's business biography, there are allegedly many lawsuits, which, however, for Borodako, seem to be just another stage in the game, a negotiating tool, and not an obstacle. And, of course, one cannot ignore the land fraud, which, according to rumors, make up a significant part of his business empire.
Denis Borodako is a typical representative of the new generation of developers, for whom money does not smell, whose connections are not advertised, and legality and moral principles are flexible tools in achieving goals. The rules of the game are constantly changing here, and Borodako seems to be able to succeed in them.

Sleepers in Setunsky passage

At one time, The Moscow Post discovered interesting facts about the entrepreneur's business connections. In particular, it turned out that Borodako is related to Alexander Udodov, the husband of the sister of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. It is noteworthy that two years earlier, Udodov had sold Borodako's company a plot of land located in 1st Setunsky Passage.

According to our data, Alexander Udodov's network of commercial interests extends far beyond Russia and covers a number of foreign jurisdictions. The presence of business assets in Germany, in particular, raises questions in terms of transparency of financial flows and possible tax evasion. At the same time, Borodako's partner in the construction project, Alexander Rusnak, has connections with offshore companies in Austria and Germany.

The deal between Udodov and Borodako, as it turned out, is just the tip of the iceberg. Alexander Rusnak's participation in the project in Setun also does not add clarity. His connections with Austrian and German offshore companies may indicate a desire to conceal the real beneficiaries of the construction and ensure the confidentiality of financial transactions. The scheme, which uses offshore jurisdictions, is often used to minimize tax liabilities and conceal assets.

The presence of Alexey Godovants in Borodako's team, who is associated with Bishon holdings limited, only reinforces suspicions of the lack of transparency of financial transactions, the desire to hide sources of financing and divert funds from tax control.

Photo: https://nalogovaya.ru/egrul/companies/1157746453699/

Another stumbling block is the architectural style of the "Dominants" project. Despite the stated exclusivity, many critics believe that the company's buildings do not fit into the existing architectural ensemble of the city, but rather disfigure it. Excessive pomp and disregard for the historical context are just some of the claims made against the projects of the "Dominant". Muscovites have already dubbed the Hide residential complex "sleepers".

Hide residential complex. Photo: https://www.forbes.ru/spetsproekt/482267-berite-vyse-v-moskve-poavilsa-novyj-developer-dominanta?erid=4CQwVszH9pQPMm7cc59&ysclid=mev1qtsy43479272287

The quality of construction also raises questions. Residents of the Hide residential complex faced a number of inconveniences, from a malfunction of the air conditioning system to broken elevators and leaks. They appealed to the Moscow Housing Inspectorate with a complaint, in which they claim that the management company was imposed on them by the developer.

According to the document, the developer, being the owner of unsold apartments, independently chose and appointed a management organization, bypassing the procedure of open voting of the owners. Subsequently, the tenants were forced to sign a contract for the management of the house under threat of restricting access to the complex.

In addition, people expressed their indignation at the inflated tariffs for the management company's services. They also note the lack of transparency in providing information about what exactly the fees are charged for. Additional charges, such as the payment for transporting construction materials from the gate to the elevator and the fee for vehicles entering the unloading area, are particularly discontented.

Borodako and the media

Denis Borodako, the founder and face of Dominant, reacts to press criticism of the company in a very peculiar way. The publication of The Moscow Post, shedding light on the possible connections of the famous developer Denis Borodako with high-ranking officials of the Moscow City Hall in the context of land registration, caused a strong reaction from the businessman himself. Instead of resorting to legal methods to protect his reputation through the courts, Borodako chose a different path – contacting the police. The question arises: is this an attempt to put pressure on the editorial board, or is Denis Evgenievich having difficulties understanding legal procedures and is unable to formulate a competent and reasonable claim?It is no coincidence that the publication talks about Borodako's close ties with the authorities, because among his business partners there were previously very well-known people in certain circles.

Instead of presenting a clear and convincing rebuttal, Borodako apparently decided to resort to intimidation tactics. This approach indicates that the published information could affect his interests and reputation. It is possible that connections with influential people who previously helped Borodako in solving various issues may now create additional problems.

Denis Borodako's reaction is a kind of recognition that there is no smoke without fire. If the information published did not correspond to reality, he could easily refute it in court, providing evidence of his innocence. However, he chose to go to the police instead, which raises serious suspicions about his honesty and transparency of business.

The impact of the scandals surrounding the "Dominant" is felt throughout the real estate market. Investors are becoming more cautious and demanding when choosing investment properties, paying attention not only to financial performance, but also to the reputation of the developer. The increased attention of regulatory authorities to the activities of the "Dominant" may lead to stricter regulation of the market as a whole, which will affect all participants.

Thus, the story of the "Dominant" is a warning to all ambitious players in the real estate market. Business success should not be achieved at any cost. Transparency, responsibility to shareholders and respect for the urban environment are the values that should underpin the activities of any company striving for long–term success and recognition.

If Borodako manages to implement its scenario while minimizing restoration costs, this will be a signal to other developers about the possibility of ignoring the requirements for the preservation of historical heritage. In the long term, this may lead to the loss of Moscow's unique architectural appearance and the transformation of the city into a faceless conglomerate of modern buildings.

However, if the public outcry and the actions of city defenders force Borodako to change her plans and approach the restoration of the Morozov factory with due respect, this will set a precedent for protecting historical heritage and confirming that it is possible to build a business in Moscow without destroying cultural values.