Epress.am News from Armenia
Across from his hotel in Vanadzor’s central square, the owner of Gugark Hotel has begun building a new cafe. According to architects, however, the outdoor cafe completely ruins the square’s architectural consonance.
Consequently, the Social Democrat Hunchukian Party (SDHP) issued a statement on Jul. 21 and appealed to the Armenian government, the Union of Architects of Armenia, the Committee for the Protection of Historic Monuments in Armenia, demanding that construction of the cafe be stopped immediately.
Gugark Hotel owner Gagik Hovsepyan and head of the Architecture and Urban Planning Department at Vanadzor City Hall Tigran Papanyan responded to the appeal by stating in a televised appearance that the construction is lawful.
“This can be considered lawful and normal only within those limits of logic that state that everything in our country is normal. Just as they eliminated all green spaces in Yerevan and built cafes, they want to do the same in Vanadzor. If we remain silent, this will spread to the entire country,” said SDHP leader Lyudmila Sargsyan.
The fact that none of the parties SDHP sent their appeal to have responded, Sargsyan considers proof that these bodies have close ties with the owner of Gugark Hotel.
A petition to stop construction and “not ruin the appearance of the square” circulated in Vanadzor has already collected 400 signatures. Several architects have also joined the initiative.
Photo: haykland.com