Jugovićevo

Map of the urban area of Novi Sad with city quarters, showing the location of Jugovićevo

The southern border of Jugovićevo is Vojvoda Stepa Boulevard, the eastern border is the Subotica Boulevard (Europe Boulevard), the north-eastern border is Rumenački put (Rumenka Road), the north-western border is Donje Sajlovo Street, and the western border is a western city limit of Novi Sad.

The neighboring settlements are: Veternička Rampa and Bistrica in the south, Detelinara and Avijatičarsko Naselje in the east, Industrijska Zona Jug in the north-east, and Sajlovo in the north-west.

The neighborhood was named after the military airport Jugovićevo, which has been here since 1913. It was built for the needs of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force. Initially, the airport had only grassy runways for landing and taking off military aircraft, while the hangars were on neighboring Sajlovo. In 1916, airport facilities, barracks and technical workshops were built here. A Serbian squadron, when it landed on French planes in November 1918 after liberation found 11 wooden hangars here. Later, six brick hangars were erected, followed by headquarters, aeroplane workshops, officers' quarters, etc.

Later on the first pilot school was formed, with additional schools for reserve air officers, scouts, aircraft mechanics and other specialists. Since September 1920, a weather station has been operating here. Since 1924, the airport has celebrated the aviation Slava of Saint Elijah (August 2nd), and since 1926 the King's Cup competition has been held regularly on the birthday of Crown Prince Peter on September 6.

The airport was named "Jugovićevo" in 1927, after airforce commander Jovan Jugović. In early April 1941, German bombers bombed the airport. After the occupation of Bačka, the Germans built a 800-metre-long concrete runway here and used this airport to fly planes to the Eastern Front. The Red Army and NOV ("Narodna Oslobodilačka Vojska", or the Socialist Yugoslav Army) have been holding planes there since October 1944, operating on the Srem front and later in the final operations to liberate Yugoslavia.

Since the mid-1950s, Jugovićevo lost its military significance. For a time there was a school for reserve officers (with a training ground), and today there is a military unit ("Majevica" barracks) stationed there. The airport was moved to Batajnica for strategic reasons since 1951.

For most of the 20th century, Jugovićevo was left undeveloped, with only large department stores and markets built across Vojvoda Stepa Boulevard for the newly made Novo Naselje neighborhood (later named Bistrica) and its residence (this would continue towards the 2020s). The electrical substation "Novi Sad 5" was built for Jugovićevo and the surrounding neighborhoods. The new city graveyard was constructed at the northern edges of the neighborhood in 1989 and continuously expanded its capacities since then.

During NATO bombing of Novi Sad in 1999, military complex Majevica and the electrical substation were heavily bombed and damaged, including several civilian buildings in the neighboring Old Detelinara and Avijatičarsko Naselje like the "Svetozar Marković Toza" elementary school.

Construction of first commercial buildings in this area started during the 1990s and was followed by construction of residential buildings. Up until the 2020s, several residential blocks were constructed (both low and high rise blocks). Several larger blocks and their apartments were constructed for the need to house the families of local officers and military personnel with beneficial prices.

By the General Urban Plan of Novi Sad for 2030, the remaining empty land areas in Jugovićevo and its surrounding neighborhoods are planned to be filled with new apartment blocks, public leisure and sports parks, schools, recreational centers, commercial and business buildings. Street extensions are planned for the neighborhood, properly connecting it to the surrounding neighborhoods through several junctions.

An eco-neighborhood is planned with a park-forest, despite the area having low tree cover and historically being a wetland with underground water issues.[1][2]

The neighborhood has privately owned, restaurants, cafes, and banquet halls showcasing typical Serbian and international food and drinks. Most notable ones are "Exclusive NS" (banquet hall) and "CIKLOVENT" (bar).

Some of the car dealers in Jugovićevo are: "Renault-Dacia", "Mazda-Grand Motors", and "Opel Belanović".

There are also several car repair shops and auto parts shops.

"Uradi Sam" hardware store in Jugovićevo

Some of the markets in Jugovićevo are: "AKSA" (baby and child product store), "Univerzal" (office, school, and crafting supply store), "Uradi Sam" (hardware store), "Brico S" (hardware store), "Matis" (furniture store), "Jysk" (furniture store), "IKEA" (furniture delivery center), "Idea" (supermarket; building previously used by Tuš and Roda Market), "Kengur" (office, school, and crafting supply store), "Pepco" (convenience store), "SIM" (hardware store), and "Lidl" (supermarket).

Historically, the Novi Sad railway passed at the eastern edges of the neighborhood. With the dismantling of the southern city railway connections (moving the railway station from Liman to Boulevard of Jaše Tomića), most of the railway infrastructure was gradually dismantled over the following decades. The last cargo railways passed in 2021, when the majority of the railway rails were dismantled due to the construction of the new park in Bistrica neighborhood and the accompanying residential block.

Bus lines 6, 7, 8, and 13 connect this neighborhood with other major city neighborhoods, as well as some surrounding settlements. However, there are currently no bus lines that go within the neighborhood itself (only at the outlines).

Most Jugovićevo residence travel via car or taxi due to the lack of convenient public transportation network and lack of cycling infrastructure in the neighborhood.

Jugovićevo, transportation and communication wise, is currently only connected to its neighboring areas (primarily Bistrica neighborhood) through four streets (three connecting only to the side street of Vojvode Stepe Boulevard, while one directly connecting to the boulevard itself). Plans are for the neighborhood to expand its road network towards its eastern and western parts, connecting the residential blocks to Subotica Boulevard (Europe Boulevard) and Bate Brkića Boulevard.

Notable Jugovićevo streets are: Draška Ređepa Street, Olge Hadžić Street, Lenke Duđerski Street, Aleksandra Benjaka Street, Boška Petrovića Street, Pavla Ivića Street, Milutina Milankovića Street, Vojvoda Stepa Boulevard, Subotica Boulevard (Europe Boulevard), and Rumenka Road.

Elite private economical school in Jugovićevo

For a short time, a private economic school ("Elitna privatna ekonomska škola" was located at Jugovićevo. Currently there are plans for building an elementary school and kindergarten in the neighborhood.

Currently, Jugovićevo has no recreational areas (apart from "Starli" amusement park) for its residence, with only a few small public green spaces between the large residential blocks.

A sports center is planned in the neighborhood, with a sports hall and athletic track with spectator area. Plans for the design of the center were made public in 2021.[6] Construction was to start in Spring of 2022,[7] However, due to the rise of prices for construction material, there are currently no funds and eagerness from the city government to construct such an area. Construction of the center is currently on hold.[8]