The development of a city cannot be measured solely by the number of apartment buildings constructed or homes sold. If we want Chișinău to continue growing, attracting people and investment, and most importantly, encouraging those who move here to stay for the long term, we need an Integrated Housing Strategy.
Housing is more than just an apartment or a house. It represents the entire ecosystem that shapes people's quality of life.
A modern housing strategy should answer several fundamental questions.
A modern housing strategy must start with people and their needs. Not everyone requires the same type of housing, and a well-planned city should provide options suited to every stage of life and every social group.
This means:
Developing the housing stock is not only about building new neighborhoods. According to the 2024 Population and Housing Census, the Municipality of Chișinău has more than 311,000 apartments, of which approximately 188,000 were built before 1991. In other words, nearly six out of every ten apartments occupied today belong to a housing stock that is more than three decades old.
These buildings will continue to accommodate a large share of the city's population for many years to come. Therefore, a modern housing strategy must give equal importance to constructing new homes and upgrading existing ones. Thermal renovation, refurbishment of common areas, replacement of elevators, structural reinforcement, and improvements in energy efficiency can significantly increase residents' comfort, reduce maintenance costs, and extend the lifespan of the housing stock.
Building new apartment blocks is only part of the solution. The sustainable development of Chișinău requires a balanced approach in which investments in new housing are complemented by renovation and revitalization programs for existing neighborhoods, ensuring that every resident has access to safe, comfortable, and suitable housing.
A home is not just 40, 70, or 100 square meters enclosed by four walls. It is where we rest, spend time with our families, and feel safe. However, our quality of life depends not only on what is inside our home but also on everything we encounter once we step outside.
Most of our time is spent moving around the city - commuting to work, taking children to school, shopping, or enjoying public spaces. That is why the infrastructure surrounding our homes is just as important as the homes themselves.
A safe and comfortable urban environment requires:
The quality of public space directly influences both quality of life and property values.
Just as the human body cannot function without a healthy circulatory system, a modern city cannot operate without reliable underground infrastructure. Water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications networks form the city's vital system. Although invisible to most residents, they support every home, institution, and business.
A large portion of Chișinău's engineering infrastructure was built alongside the major residential districts developed between 1960 and 1990. After decades of operation, many of these networks require continuous rehabilitation and modernization to meet current demands and support the development of new residential areas.
When underground infrastructure fails to keep pace with urban growth, the consequences become immediately visible through pipe failures, flooding, service interruptions, water losses, higher maintenance costs, and reduced quality of life.
For this reason, housing development must be accompanied by continuous investment in technical infrastructure. Building new neighborhoods without expanding and modernizing existing utility networks can create problems that will affect the city's functionality and residents' quality of life for decades.
The scale of these investments is reflected in the size of the existing infrastructure. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2024 the Republic of Moldova had approximately 21,600 km of public water supply networks and 5,726 km of public sewerage networks. In 2025, these figures increased to around 22,400 km and 5,900 km, respectively.
The Municipality of Chișinău contains the largest share of the country's urban infrastructure and has the highest level of connectivity to these services, making their modernization and maintenance one of the city's most important long-term investment priorities.
A home is more than just the apartment or house we live in. Quality of life is equally determined by the services and facilities available nearby. When choosing a neighborhood, people consider not only the price of a property but also how easily they can organize their daily lives.
Access to kindergartens, schools, high schools, hospitals, healthcare centers, sports facilities, cultural venues, parks, recreational areas, and public services is among the most important factors when choosing a home. The closer and better these services are, the less time people spend commuting and the higher their comfort and overall quality of life.
A modern housing strategy must ensure the balanced development of both housing and social infrastructure. A well-planned neighborhood offers not only new homes but also everything people need to learn, work, receive healthcare, enjoy their leisure time, and build strong communities where they want to live for many years.
Urban mobility is one of the key factors that shape the quality of life in any city. The time people spend in traffic, access to public transportation, the ability to walk or cycle safely, and the connectivity between neighborhoods all have a direct impact on residents' comfort and on a city's attractiveness.
A well-designed mobility system gives people more time for their families, work, and recreation, reduces transportation costs, and helps decrease pollution. At the same time, an efficient transport network improves housing accessibility and supports the balanced development of the entire city.
A modern housing strategy cannot be separated from an urban mobility strategy. It should include:
Modern cities are designed around people, not exclusively around cars. Well-organized urban mobility means more than faster travel - it creates more accessible neighborhoods, a healthier environment, and a higher quality of life for everyone.
A strong economy is the foundation upon which every successful city is built. According to official data, the Municipality of Chișinău has a population of approximately 720,000 residents, generates a regional GDP exceeding MDL 171 billion, is home to more than 41,000 active businesses, and has an average gross monthly salary approaching MDL 20,000.
These indicators confirm Chișinău's role as the economic engine of the Republic of Moldova and explain why the city continues to attract investment, businesses, jobs, new residents, and consequently, sustained demand for housing.
A modern housing strategy cannot be separated from economic development. People choose to buy a home and build their future in cities where they have access to well-paid jobs, business opportunities, and professional growth.
A competitive economy increases household incomes, stimulates investment, and generates the financial resources needed to modernize infrastructure, improve public services, and enhance quality of life. Ultimately, a prosperous city is defined not only by the buildings it constructs but also by the opportunities it creates for the people who choose to live there.
For this reason, housing development must go hand in hand with economic development. Investments in industrial parks, IT parks, logistics hubs, research centers, and other high-value-added sectors create quality jobs, generate tax revenues, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the Municipality of Chișinău.
The city needs investments that create well-paid jobs, including:
A strong economy leads to higher wages, greater tax revenues, and more resources for continuous urban development.
Cities where people genuinely want to live do not emerge by chance. They are the result of a long-term vision in which housing, infrastructure, transportation, economic development, and public spaces are planned together rather than separately.
For the Municipality of Chișinău to grow in a balanced and sustainable way, housing development must be accompanied by investments in infrastructure, mobility, public services, and economic growth. Only through an integrated approach can we build a city that is more functional, more competitive, and more attractive to live in.
In an era when cities compete to attract investment, businesses, skilled professionals, and young families, quality of life has become one of the most important competitive advantages. People choose whether to stay in or move to a city based not only on housing prices, but also on commuting times, access to schools and healthcare, the availability of parks and green spaces, neighborhood safety, career opportunities, and the quality of public services.
Every urban investment has an impact on the city as a whole. Building a new residential neighborhood requires expanding water and sewerage networks, improving road infrastructure, creating additional places in kindergartens and schools, enhancing public transportation, and developing parks and public spaces.
When these components are planned together, the city grows in a balanced and sustainable manner. Without an integrated approach, urban growth can place excessive pressure on existing infrastructure and ultimately reduce residents' quality of life.
Conclusion
A home is only the beginning. Quality of life is the result of how well all the components of a city work together.
If we want Chișinău to become a competitive regional capital capable of attracting investment, skilled professionals, and young families, we must move beyond a policy focused solely on constructing apartment buildings and embrace an Integrated Housing Strategy.
Because, in the end, people do not simply choose an apartment. They choose a neighborhood. They choose a city. They choose a way of life.
Author: Victor Cernomorcenco
Realization of the analysis by Victor Cernomorcenco, specialist in real estate in Chisinau and representative of Acces Imobil.
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