Simakova's crack became wet.

      Recently, on March 27, the editorial team of Newsler.ru celebrated the anniversary of one of the "monuments of modern renovation" of Kirov's cultural sites, colloquially named "Simakova Gap." A couple of days passed, and on April 3, the administration cheerfully reported that the rotundas in Alexander Garden had been put in order after winter. The administration's website reported on the cleanup conducted by employees of the territorial management for the First May district. According to the management, during the work, both rotundas were completely updated: they were painted, and external defects from winter were eliminated. On the riverside rotunda, workers relaid the tiles on the stairs. Because of this, the entrances to it are temporarily closed until Sunday. However, we decided not to take the press releases at face value and went to Alexander Garden to check the condition of the rotundas after such a sudden "renovation." It's hard to say that expectations matched reality. From a distance, it may indeed seem that the rotundas are now in perfect condition. But the closer you get to them, the clearer the picture becomes. Notably, the photos attached to the news from the administration's website, which we referenced above, were taken exclusively from a distance and from the right angles, apparently to avoid scaring Kirov residents who believed in a miracle. We will start our review with the great and terrible Gap. It has indeed been patched up, but the quality of the work leaves much to be desired. Even through the paint, it is visible that concrete was simply splashed on it. However, not all cracks received attention, and some "friends" of Simakova Gap were missed and "left alive." Speaking of paint, the rotundas (we won't shy away from this word) have been painted either with whitewash or not very high-quality white paint. Of course, no one painted them entirely, hastily patching all noticeable holes and peeling plaster. Also, apparently, the "paint" was applied in one layer, as old defects, peeling plaster, and signs of time are showing through the fresh "renovation." According to Gismeteo, rain is promised in Kirov in the coming days. The only question is: how long will such "updating" last after the first downpour? Another point: the hastily patched Simakova Gap feels damp to the touch, and a white residue of wet plaster or possibly paint was left on our hands after we touched the Gap. The columns were also "refreshed" in a peculiar way: rusty bases were painted along with the floor, without bothering with the neatness of execution and the aesthetic appearance of the cultural heritage object (or perhaps this is some exquisite design solution that we, mere mortals, are not destined to understand). And the new tiles, which officials reported on, have already begun to come off the steps. It is also interesting that the contractor who repaired the rotundas previously refused to eliminate defects, and the client essentially had no right to intervene in an object under warranty. A logical assumption arises: either the legal disputes have already been resolved and the parties "agreed," or someone decided to act bypassing the procedure. If the work was indeed done by their own efforts, it could turn into a new problem. Intervening in a warranty object often means the risk of losing the ability to demand the contractor fulfill their obligations. In simpler terms — if "we fixed it ourselves," it will be much harder to prove in court that defects even existed. And the main question is how long this "renovation" will last. Judging by the quality of the work, the answer may come after the very first rains. Then "Simakova Gap" risks returning — only now in an updated, pristine form.