THE ROAD THAT GREW INTO A BOULEVARD
Once, this was a road leading to the Airport, further on to the agricultural exhibition (since 1956, the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy) and up to the "20 Years of Kyrgyzstan" Rest House. In the 1930s, on the right, beyond the railway line, a repair and mechanical plant was built. This is essentially where the street began.
In the post-war years, enormous changes began for this multi-kilometer road. Year by year, its appearance changed: the road transformed into a street. In 1953, it was named Novo-Belinskaya, and in July 1960, it was renamed Mira Avenue. It stretches from the railway crossing, which was put into operation in 1972, to the Airport, which was closed in 1980 due to the opening of the new "Manas" airport.
Now, on the avenue, one can see many multi-story buildings. All of them were constructed in the post-war period. Here, in the airport area, the first microdistrict for 6,000 residents was built in 1960 (architect A. Lovushkina). Construction along the avenue continues. The roadway is wide and spacious. Along the broad asphalted sidewalks, multi-row green strips of trees with lawns stretch out, protecting residents from street noise.
Behind the buildings of the V. I. Lenin Machine-Building Association lies the stadium of the factory. In 1953, on the left side of the street, a champagne factory was built, the products of which gained wide recognition. It was awarded gold medals at international exhibitions more than once.
In 1961, a three-story building of the road transport technical school with dormitories was erected (architect G. M. Molchanov). The following year, at the intersection with 50th Anniversary of October Street, a three-story building of the Frunze Polytechnic Institute was put into operation (architects G. Nazaryan, T. Savvateev). Here, 13,366 students (as of October 1, 1989) study in the evening, daytime, and correspondence departments across 73 departments. A large team of teachers works at the institute, among whom are 2 corresponding members of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR, 11 hold doctoral degrees, and 452 are candidates of sciences.
In the institute's building, there is a memorial plaque to its first rector, G. A. Sukhomlinov. Opposite the institute, since 1966, the widescreen cinema "Manas" towers, and a little higher, in a beautiful, modern multi-story building constructed in 1974, is the design institute "Kyrgyzdortransproekt," organized in 1967 (architect G. Kutateladze). This building also houses the republican committee of the trade union of road transport workers and highways and the Institute of Physiology and Experimental Pathology of High Altitude of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR.
Not far from the turn to the former airport, in a two-story building since 1964, is the Central City Library named after N. K. Krupskaya. There are many different shops on the avenue, as well as a television studio, post office, etc.
In the 1980s, the construction of a number of new buildings on Mira Avenue was completed and put into operation. Among them, the twelve-story residential building with the "Baichchekek" department store on the first floor stands out. This is the second largest shopping center in the city, selling goods for children (the first is located on Lenin Avenue between the central grocery store "School-store" and the beauty salon "Ai-peri").
Here, on this avenue, in the building of the former airport, the Aeroflot agency has been relocated. Previously, it was located at the intersection of Soviet and Moscow Streets, on the first floor of a residential building, where the city children's dental clinic is now located.
Above the Aeroflot agency is the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy of the Kyrgyz SSR (VDNKh) and the "Issyk-Kul" hotel.
The VDNKh of the Kyrgyz SSR dates back to 1947. At that time, it was called the permanent livestock exhibition and occupied only 1.75 hectares of land based on the experimental farm of the Kyrgyz Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. Now, the VDNKh represents a complex of pavilion buildings, a dendrarium, artificial lakes (2), and parks. The total area of the Exhibition is 110 hectares, of which 32 hectares is the main area, 21 hectares are occupied by vineyards and fruit trees, and 16 hectares by various plants. Almost all types of the plant world of Kyrgyzstan are concentrated here, more than 15 varieties of fruit trees, and 20 types of flowers. In a small zoo, some species of the animal world are represented, including camels, yaks, deer, mountain goats, etc.; in the artificial lakes, rare species of cranes, black swans, pelicans, etc., swim.
On the territory of the exhibition, there are 10 main and 15 industry pavilions. The main pavilion building was constructed in 1974 (architects V. Lyzenko, L. Nezhurin, and others), and in 1980, a monument to V. I. Lenin was erected on the central alley of the exhibition (sculptor I. Rukavishnikov).
For many years, the VDNKh of the Kyrgyz SSR has been performing an important task of disseminating advanced experience in organizing the economy, production technology, and demonstrating achievements in science and technology. Many farms, production leaders, and figures in science and technology have been awarded medals from the VDNKh of the Kyrgyz SSR.
Below the VDNKh of the Kyrgyz SSR is the "Issyk-Kul" hotel. It was built in 1984 (architects K. Alykulov, K. Ibraev, M. Kerimkulov, engineers G. Maliy, S. Denisov, A. Musatov). The building is eight stories, frame construction made of brick. To the left of the entrance to the hotel is a dome-shaped building in the form of a yurt - it houses a restaurant (for 150 seats) and a café (for 50 seats). The hotel has 185 rooms for 230 guests, and a conference hall for 200 people. In 1989, it hosted the international symposium "The Great Silk Road," organized under the auspices of UNESCO.
Losev D. S., Kochkunov A. S. What the Streets Tell
Streets of Bishkek
