The article is devoted to ancient mansions and mansions of the XVIII-XX century, which are in an abandoned state. But with the restoration, they could become new cultural spaces. We will talk about three mansions in St. Petersburg (Nobel Mansion, Ernest Igel mansion, Demidov manor) and four country estates in the Leningrad region (Faberge cottage, Mikhailovka Manor, Princess Paley Palace, Eliseev-Novinsky manor). The article describes: the history of the estates up to the present day, their current state against the background of their architectural value. Based on a brief analysis, the following features of the location of the described architectural objects can be distinguished. Within walking distance are: the Nobel Mansion, the Ernest Igel mansion, the Demidov estate. And the following objects are accessible by transport: Faberge cottage, Mikhailovka manor, Princess Paley Palace, Eliseev-Novinsky manor. And it is proposed to transform them into a new point of attraction for people – the "third place", which is an urgent issue for a modern city.

Keywords: estates, architectural monuments, cultural heritage sites, mansions, monuments of the past, restoration, third place