Plan of the construction of Nikolaev
 Russian engineer I. I. Knyazev drew up the first city plan in 1789. His plan provided space in the middle of the city for city government, the Admiralty, and a dockyard. The eastern part of the city was devoted to the military; the western part, to civil life.
A later urban plan was developed by I. E. Starov.
 The natural landscape of the Nikolaev peninsula, with hills and few creeks or other natural drainages, allowed streets to be laid out geometrically. The classical style of architecture, dominant at the time, is reflected in the Knyazev and Starov plans.
 From the beginning, Nikolaev was conceived as a city primarily of private residences. Because land was plentiful and inexpensive in the city's early days, growth stretched onto open land detached from the historic center. People had space to develop gardens at their houses and the Naval Command, which administered the city, supported such private gardening by sailors and citizens. That support laid the foundation for a strong gardening and farming tradition in Nikolaev.
Streets are straight and wide. This distinctive characteristic is visible in all old maps and documents, and in the city as-built.
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