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ARMENIAN SCHOOL TO BE TURNED INTO HOTEL
Hurriyet
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenian-school-to-be-turned-into-hotel.aspx?pageID=238&nID=23938&NewsCatID=339
June 25 2012
Turkey
The historical building that is to be transformed into a hotel dates
back to the beginning of the 1900s and is located in Istanbul's
Gedikpa癬_a district in the Fatih area. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GUREL
A historical Armenian school, Mesrobyan School in Istanbul's
Gedikpa癬_a district, is being transformed into a hotel.
Gedikpa癬_a Surp Hovhannes Church Foundation head Harutyun 癬^anl覺,
who is also the general secretary of the Armenian Foundations
Solidarity Platform, spoke to the Hurriyet Daily News and said the
main reason they took this step with courage was the moderate policies
the government had adopted in recent years.
"Before 2008, we could not even hammer a nail on the property we owned,
but since 2008, everything has changed. With the new Foundation Law
passed last year, we can reclaim our property and have the ownership
returned to us," he said.
Historical building
The building that is to be transformed into a hotel dated back to
the beginning of the 1900s, said 癬^anl覺, adding that the building
served as a school until 1983 but had to be closed down because there
were no students left.
The place which is located on the historical peninsula of Istanbul
was then used as a shoe manufacturing shop for years.
The revenue generated by the hotel will be transferred to Armenian
establishments in Istanbul and will be used to support people in need.
癬^anl覺 said they believed the hotel would be in high demand because
of its vicinity to the historical peninsula.
"I hope that the administration will soon decide also about the
Tokatl覺yan Hotel in Beyoglu which is in ruins so that this hotel is
transformed back into the glorious hotel it used to be."
If Tokatl覺yan is also renovated like the hotel in Gedikpa癬_a,
then the Armenian community would be free of financial problems,
癬^anl覺 said.
"Now, we have difficulty raising funds for our churches, schools and
families in need. We are trying to make ends meet with donations and
funds raised at certain events," he said.
Tokatl覺yan Hotel
Tokatl覺yan Hotel on 襤stiklal Street in Beyoglu hosted several
leaders when it operated, first and foremost Ataturk, and the high
society of the world.
Because the administration of the Tokatl覺yan Foundation, which is
the richest foundation of the Armenian community, has not changed
for the past 30 years and because they have rejected all projects,
the community has sued the administration of the foundation.
Considered by scholars to be a significant architectural achievement,
the Tokatl覺yan-Pera is one of the best examples of fin-de-si癡cle
architecture in Turkey.
The hotel belongs to the Uc Horan Armenian Church Foundation, one of
the richest foundations of Turkey's Armenian community.
The foundation's administration, which has remained unchanged for
30 years, has chosen not to adopt any of the numerous renovation
proposals that have been submitted over the years.
Hurriyet
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenian-school-to-be-turned-into-hotel.aspx?pageID=238&nID=23938&NewsCatID=339
June 25 2012
Turkey
The historical building that is to be transformed into a hotel dates
back to the beginning of the 1900s and is located in Istanbul's
Gedikpa癬_a district in the Fatih area. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GUREL
A historical Armenian school, Mesrobyan School in Istanbul's
Gedikpa癬_a district, is being transformed into a hotel.
Gedikpa癬_a Surp Hovhannes Church Foundation head Harutyun 癬^anl覺,
who is also the general secretary of the Armenian Foundations
Solidarity Platform, spoke to the Hurriyet Daily News and said the
main reason they took this step with courage was the moderate policies
the government had adopted in recent years.
"Before 2008, we could not even hammer a nail on the property we owned,
but since 2008, everything has changed. With the new Foundation Law
passed last year, we can reclaim our property and have the ownership
returned to us," he said.
Historical building
The building that is to be transformed into a hotel dated back to
the beginning of the 1900s, said 癬^anl覺, adding that the building
served as a school until 1983 but had to be closed down because there
were no students left.
The place which is located on the historical peninsula of Istanbul
was then used as a shoe manufacturing shop for years.
The revenue generated by the hotel will be transferred to Armenian
establishments in Istanbul and will be used to support people in need.
癬^anl覺 said they believed the hotel would be in high demand because
of its vicinity to the historical peninsula.
"I hope that the administration will soon decide also about the
Tokatl覺yan Hotel in Beyoglu which is in ruins so that this hotel is
transformed back into the glorious hotel it used to be."
If Tokatl覺yan is also renovated like the hotel in Gedikpa癬_a,
then the Armenian community would be free of financial problems,
癬^anl覺 said.
"Now, we have difficulty raising funds for our churches, schools and
families in need. We are trying to make ends meet with donations and
funds raised at certain events," he said.
Tokatl覺yan Hotel
Tokatl覺yan Hotel on 襤stiklal Street in Beyoglu hosted several
leaders when it operated, first and foremost Ataturk, and the high
society of the world.
Because the administration of the Tokatl覺yan Foundation, which is
the richest foundation of the Armenian community, has not changed
for the past 30 years and because they have rejected all projects,
the community has sued the administration of the foundation.
Considered by scholars to be a significant architectural achievement,
the Tokatl覺yan-Pera is one of the best examples of fin-de-si癡cle
architecture in Turkey.
The hotel belongs to the Uc Horan Armenian Church Foundation, one of
the richest foundations of Turkey's Armenian community.
The foundation's administration, which has remained unchanged for
30 years, has chosen not to adopt any of the numerous renovation
proposals that have been submitted over the years.