Yakutia's Starlit housing project leaves buyers stranded by unfinished roads

Varvara bought a studio flat in Yakutia’s largest housing project, the Zvezdny microdistrict, expecting to move in by November 30, 2023. Now, delays in road construction have left her apartment block disconnected from essential utilities. The project, backed by nearly 3 billion rubles in federal funds, remains stalled due to unresolved infrastructure issues. The Zvezdny microdistrict, also known as Starlit, is a major development in Yakutia with multiple residential blocks. Varvara’s home in Block C was meant to be ready by late November, but the area still lacks proper access roads. A crumbling route has physically cut off the block from the district’s utility hub, preventing connections.

The Municipal Institution Glavstroy was responsible for building the road network, but funding has yet to materialise. While the first phase of the project received a positive state expert review, no procurement could begin without allocated funds. Local authorities, however, dispute claims that missing roads are the sole reason for the delay. Varvara paid nearly 230,000 rubles per square metre for her 28-square-metre flat. Instead of moving in, she now faces an extended rental lease with no clear end date.

The deadlock leaves residents like Varvara in limbo, unable to occupy their new homes. Without completed roads, utility connections remain impossible, and the district’s administration has not confirmed when funding will arrive. The project’s future now depends on resolving the infrastructure standstill.