According to the Chairman of the Moscow State Expertise Valery Leonov, experts of the Moscow State Expertise have already approved as many as 31 reconstruction projects of the capital's neighbourhood movie theaters. The buildings will be turned into neighbourhood proximity shopping and consumer services centers, complete with necessary infrastructure.

"Very soon old Soviet neighbourhood movie theaters will have new looks and new functions, whereas, until recently, most of these buildings were not even being used for their original purpose. In addition to modern cineplexes, the neighbourhood centres will house fair and exhibition grounds, creative workshops, supermarkets and stores," Valery Leonov says.

The redevelopment projects approved by the Moscow State Expertise include seven movie theaters in the Southern Okrug of Moscow, four in the South-Western Okrug, two in the South-Eastern and Western Okrugs each, six projects in the Northern, five in the North-Eastern, four in the Eastern, and one former movie theater in the North-Western Okrug.

"In general, all approved projects are well worked through, with the modern safety and reliability requirements taken into account together with such considerations as the architectural appearance, zoning, and accessibility to people with limited mobility," points out Anna Yakovleva, Head of the Moscow State Expertise.

The redevelopment works on 39 former neighbourhood movie theaters are scheduled to be completed within two years. The movie theaters reconstruction program is carried out by ADG Group.