Don’t Demolish the Downtown Core! An Open Letter to Yerevan Authorities

Several NGOs, activists and Yerevan residents are urging city authorities to preserve the historical building at 30 Arami St. in downtown Yerevan.

In an open letter to Yerevan authorities, they provide the following grounds for their request:

– changing the architectural contextual logic of the street the building is on is unacceptable, since it will eliminate the aesthetic value and unique flavor of the city dear to residents and that attracts visitors,

– being one of the few 19th century buildings preserved in the downtown core and at the same time, being built of red tuff, essentially, it’s a monument, which is distinguished by ancient and unique architectural composition,

– with no final decision on demolition, it’s incomprehensible why the idea of “destroying” the building is being discussed: and if a decision, nevertheless, has been approved, then the public should’ve been informed about it previously,

– it is a part of the [city’s] historical nucleus, since a significant layer of Yerevan’s history is represented by the now few buildings in the city center; thus any urban process that assumes future modification of this historical kernel is completely unacceptable;

– any intention to destroy, as well as any inroad toward existing other structures that have historical and cultural significance in Armenia also makes vulnerable state policy in preserving Armenian historical and cultural monuments in other countries.

Authors of the letter note that since the complete resolution of the question of the area encompassing Abovyan, Arami and Nalbandyan streets has not yet been put up for public discussion, all modifications by the city in this area have to be suspended and the area should not be subject to any changes.

Photo: Norayr Chilingarian’s home on the web