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ANOTHER PIECE OF OLD YEREVAN FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Kristine Aghalaryan
There's a placard on the outside wall of the building at 4 Pushkin
Street that reads, "Maintained by the government"
Emma Kilikyan, a resident, says that the sign is merely for show and
that the government is doing nothing to preserve the building built
in the late 19th and early 20th century.
"They couldn't give a hoot about this place," says Mrs. Kilikyan
who lives in the building along with her husband. The structure is
included in the list of historical-cultural landmarks.
The resident says that an episode of the film Garegin Nzhdeh was
filmed in the courtyard out back.
Mrs. Kilikyan says that the building was belonged to the wealthy
Tairov family and that the Kilikyans purchased in the late 1920s.
She's been living there ever since getting married 55 years ago.
She says that the businessman Samvel Mayrapetyan is now pressuring
them to sell.
The government has allocated the building at 2 Pushkin Street (the
former fire engine station facing Sakharov Square) and adjacent
structures to Mayrapetyan under an eminent domain order.
According to a 2008 government decision, Mayrapetyan's "Local
Developers" company in a project designed to rid Yerevan of dilapidated
structures that were not seismically sound. The plan at the time was
for the site to be demolished and a new multi-purpose structure to
be built.
The government's decision notes that the area contains landmark
buildings which are in poor condition.
In its decision, the government also stated that the new owner of the
site would be allowed to "restore and rebuild" the existing structures
in a manner that would synthesize the old Yerevan architectural style
with buildings now being erected.
As to what this means in practical terms is anyone's guess. Even the
new owner, Samvel Mayrapetyan, confesses that he hasn't yet decided
what to build at the site.
He knows that there are two landmark buildings at the site and claims
that it is possible to maintain their former appearance, but that
he will have to consult with architectural specialists. Mayrapetyan
says that the Ministry of Culture will also have a say in the matter
as to what can and cannot be changed.
Mrs. Kilikyan says that Mayrapetyan has offered the family $400,000
for their 1,000 square meter property but have rejected the sum
as inadequate.
She claims the market value is more like $1million.
Most of the residents at 4 Pushkin have already accepted Mayrapetyan's
money and have vacated the premises.
One such resident, who didn't wish to be named, said he accepted
$70,000 for a 70 square meter apartment; an amount regarded as way
below market for an apartment in the heart of Yerevan.
Mayrapetyan says he doesn't know what course of action he will take
regarding those who hold out for more money.
"The historical buildings require specific decisions and special
attention," said Mayrapetyan.
For the present, the status of 2 Pushkin remains in limbo.
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/25636/another-piece-of-old-yerevan-faces-uncertain-future.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Kristine Aghalaryan
There's a placard on the outside wall of the building at 4 Pushkin
Street that reads, "Maintained by the government"
Emma Kilikyan, a resident, says that the sign is merely for show and
that the government is doing nothing to preserve the building built
in the late 19th and early 20th century.
"They couldn't give a hoot about this place," says Mrs. Kilikyan
who lives in the building along with her husband. The structure is
included in the list of historical-cultural landmarks.
The resident says that an episode of the film Garegin Nzhdeh was
filmed in the courtyard out back.
Mrs. Kilikyan says that the building was belonged to the wealthy
Tairov family and that the Kilikyans purchased in the late 1920s.
She's been living there ever since getting married 55 years ago.
She says that the businessman Samvel Mayrapetyan is now pressuring
them to sell.
The government has allocated the building at 2 Pushkin Street (the
former fire engine station facing Sakharov Square) and adjacent
structures to Mayrapetyan under an eminent domain order.
According to a 2008 government decision, Mayrapetyan's "Local
Developers" company in a project designed to rid Yerevan of dilapidated
structures that were not seismically sound. The plan at the time was
for the site to be demolished and a new multi-purpose structure to
be built.
The government's decision notes that the area contains landmark
buildings which are in poor condition.
In its decision, the government also stated that the new owner of the
site would be allowed to "restore and rebuild" the existing structures
in a manner that would synthesize the old Yerevan architectural style
with buildings now being erected.
As to what this means in practical terms is anyone's guess. Even the
new owner, Samvel Mayrapetyan, confesses that he hasn't yet decided
what to build at the site.
He knows that there are two landmark buildings at the site and claims
that it is possible to maintain their former appearance, but that
he will have to consult with architectural specialists. Mayrapetyan
says that the Ministry of Culture will also have a say in the matter
as to what can and cannot be changed.
Mrs. Kilikyan says that Mayrapetyan has offered the family $400,000
for their 1,000 square meter property but have rejected the sum
as inadequate.
She claims the market value is more like $1million.
Most of the residents at 4 Pushkin have already accepted Mayrapetyan's
money and have vacated the premises.
One such resident, who didn't wish to be named, said he accepted
$70,000 for a 70 square meter apartment; an amount regarded as way
below market for an apartment in the heart of Yerevan.
Mayrapetyan says he doesn't know what course of action he will take
regarding those who hold out for more money.
"The historical buildings require specific decisions and special
attention," said Mayrapetyan.
For the present, the status of 2 Pushkin remains in limbo.
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/25636/another-piece-of-old-yerevan-faces-uncertain-future.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress