MONUMENT V. OLIGARCH: CRITICS SAY ALEXANYAN IGNORING REGULATIONS IN DEVELOPING "PAK SHUKA"
http://www.armenianow.com/society/44986/yerevan_covered_market_samvel_alexanyan_union_of_a rchitects
SOCIETY | 03.04.13 | 15:36
Photolure
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Representatives of civil initiatives and architects concerned with
the future of Yerevan's famous Pak Shuka (indoor market on Mashtots
avenue) warn that despite the state ban to carry out construction
at the premises of the market - a cultural historical monument -
an active illegal construction is ongoing there.
Since early 2012 both civil activists and the union of architects,
and even the Yerevan city hall and culture ministry have been
trying to convince the current owner of the market, businessman,
MP Samvel Alexanyan that he has no right to do any construction on
its territory without prior approval of the architectural design by
respective bodies.
Even architect Semion Barseghyan, in charge of the market's restoration
planning and design, has stated that the plan is under discussion
and has not been finally approve yet; heavy machinery never leaves
the market premises nonetheless. According to some speculations the
underground parking lot is ready, and at this moment the market has
huge holes, most probably dug to make entries to the parking area.
So far the only untouched part is the facade of the building. The press
reports that the Republican MP who maintains that has no businesses
personally, is planning to open up another branch of Yerevan City
supermarket chain belonging, as he claims, to his family.
Chairman of the Union of Architects Mkrtich Minasyan and his deputy
Alexander Badalyan told media Wednesday that despite all their efforts
they are unable to stop the "barbarism" taking place at Pak Shuka.
Minasyan responded that they had turned to the Prosecutor General's
office with this issue, but the response they got was that whatever
is happening at the market is not of criminal nature.
On Tuesday a group of architects had addressed a petition to Yerevan
mayor Taron Margaryan asking him to "define the actions being applied
to the Central indoor market as cultural vandalism, file a lawsuit
against the owner demanding compensation for the damage caused to the
monument and depriving him of his ownership right for that property".
Minasyan, who was among those who had signed the petition, has no hope
that the issue will be solved, unless the president of the country
interferes himself. He sees no point in meeting Alexanyan.
"The comprehension level of such people is low; if you tell him you
are dealing with a monument, he won't get it, because there is an
urgent need for space to build his stores," says Minasyan.
http://www.armenianow.com/society/44986/yerevan_covered_market_samvel_alexanyan_union_of_a rchitects
SOCIETY | 03.04.13 | 15:36
Photolure
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Representatives of civil initiatives and architects concerned with
the future of Yerevan's famous Pak Shuka (indoor market on Mashtots
avenue) warn that despite the state ban to carry out construction
at the premises of the market - a cultural historical monument -
an active illegal construction is ongoing there.
Since early 2012 both civil activists and the union of architects,
and even the Yerevan city hall and culture ministry have been
trying to convince the current owner of the market, businessman,
MP Samvel Alexanyan that he has no right to do any construction on
its territory without prior approval of the architectural design by
respective bodies.
Even architect Semion Barseghyan, in charge of the market's restoration
planning and design, has stated that the plan is under discussion
and has not been finally approve yet; heavy machinery never leaves
the market premises nonetheless. According to some speculations the
underground parking lot is ready, and at this moment the market has
huge holes, most probably dug to make entries to the parking area.
So far the only untouched part is the facade of the building. The press
reports that the Republican MP who maintains that has no businesses
personally, is planning to open up another branch of Yerevan City
supermarket chain belonging, as he claims, to his family.
Chairman of the Union of Architects Mkrtich Minasyan and his deputy
Alexander Badalyan told media Wednesday that despite all their efforts
they are unable to stop the "barbarism" taking place at Pak Shuka.
Minasyan responded that they had turned to the Prosecutor General's
office with this issue, but the response they got was that whatever
is happening at the market is not of criminal nature.
On Tuesday a group of architects had addressed a petition to Yerevan
mayor Taron Margaryan asking him to "define the actions being applied
to the Central indoor market as cultural vandalism, file a lawsuit
against the owner demanding compensation for the damage caused to the
monument and depriving him of his ownership right for that property".
Minasyan, who was among those who had signed the petition, has no hope
that the issue will be solved, unless the president of the country
interferes himself. He sees no point in meeting Alexanyan.
"The comprehension level of such people is low; if you tell him you
are dealing with a monument, he won't get it, because there is an
urgent need for space to build his stores," says Minasyan.