The historic city center of St. Petersburg is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the proposed construction of a modern skyscraper that would dwarf the surrounding buildings has representatives of UNESCO warning that the tower would move the status of St. Petersburg's historic center to "endangered." The Okhta Tower, intended to house offices of Gazprom, defies previous height limitations for buildings in the St. Petersburg city center.
Students of Russian history will be reminded of the story that describes how Peter the Great declared that no building in St. Petersburg could be taller than the spire on the cathedral in the Peter and Paul Fortress. Limits for building height have remained modest, but sources indicate that the tower exceeds standard height limitations by several times.
BBC has more information and a photo of the proposed tower: Russian Tower Plans Cause Alarm.
Times Online offers background on the tower and information about the fate of other proposed towers: Protests Ignored as Europe's Tallest Skyscraper Gets Green Light in St. Petersburg