Plans to build Europe's first Universal Studios were announced in 2012 / Universal Studios

The construction of the Universal Studios park is being moved from Varshavskoe Shosse to the territory of New Moscow, the main owner of the Safmar group Mikhail Gutseriev told Vedomosti in an interview. In December 2015, it acquired the company A101 Development from Vadim Moshkovich, which owns 2,400 hectares of the former Kommunarka state farm in New Moscow. On this territory, it is necessary to create points of attraction and organize jobs, Gutseriev explains the transfer of the project.

The investor approached city authorities with a proposal to build an amusement park in New Moscow, Deputy Mayor of Moscow Marat Khusnullin confirmed to Vedomosti. "We can only welcome such a decision," he said, adding that the city is interested in developing the infrastructure of the annexed territories. The request to Universal Studios remained unanswered.

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Real Estate / Commercial Real Estate

Plans to build the first Universal Studios in Europe became known in 2012. On 22 hectares at the intersection of the Moscow Ring Road and Varshavskoye Shosse, co-owner of Safmar Sait Gutseriev planned to build 1.2 million square meters for $3 billion, of which Universal Studios would be 150,000. The rest would be 3- and 4-star hotels (120,000 square meters), an office complex (160,000), retail facilities, a water park, a musical theater, and a park-and-ride facility for 10,000 cars. A representative of Universal Studios confirmed this. The project was planned to be completed by 2018. Mikhail Gutseriev clarified that the project parameters had not changed.

Most large entertainment parks, such as Disneyland in Paris or the same Universal Studios in Singapore, are usually located outside the city limits - this allows to avoid transport collapse and create a point of attraction in a specific place, says Stanislav Bibik, a partner at Colliers International. With proper logistics, in particular shuttles or electric trains, there will be no problems with attendance at Universal Studios in the new Moscow, he is sure. This is primarily a tourist project, it will enhance the image of the entire territory, says Olga Shirokova, director of the consulting department at Knight Frank.

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Business / Interviews and Profiles

Considering the higher cost of land near metro stations within the Moscow Ring Road, the decision to move the thematic project to New Moscow seems logical, says Anton Korotayev, director of business development for the JLL consulting services group: the site on Varshavskoe Shosse can be more effectively developed with housing.

Gutseriev agrees. According to him, Safmar wants to build about 500,000 square meters of housing there. The city has not yet approved this project, said a representative of Moskomstroyinvest.

The managing partner of Metrium Group, Maria Litinetskaya, estimates the investment in the project at 30-35 billion rubles. She notes that the Annino district is characterized by intense competition: there are already two large projects of the PIK group, and within the framework of the Lesoparkovaya transport hub, Roman Avdeev's Ingrad wants to build a complex of 160,000 sq. m. Leading analyst of CIAN Alexander Pypin notes the good transport accessibility of the site due to the Anninskaya overpass and the metro.

Europe's First Universal Studios Park to Appear in New Moscow