Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Its destruction continues - half the roof is gone, and a new level has been added to the top (with what looks like a second level also under construction).

http://hetq.am/eng/news/24764/samvel-aleksanyan’s-“house”.html

Basically, it proves what everyone knows - nothing in Armenia is safe from destruction, and "protection" is meaningless. Aleksanyan has got away with doing exactly what he planned, and his nominal fine is just a minor additional expense, and was probably considerably cheaper than going through any planning permission process.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

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_architects

SOCIETY 03.04.13

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.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

HEAD OF UNION OF ARCHITECTS OF ARMENIA: CONSTRUCTION IN AREA OF COVERED MARKET IN YEREVAN LACKS APPROVED PROJECT
ARMINFO
Wednesday, April 3

Construction in the area of the Covered Market in the city center
is continued without approved project, Mkrtich Minasyan, Head of the
Union of Architects of Armenia, told media, Wednesday. He said that
he has no information what particularly is being constructed in the
given are and submitted recent photos of the construction. He said
that what has already been built is enough for a tough punishment.

Minasyan said that the Union of Architects has sent open letters to
all possible structures, but no adequate reply was received. The Union
has recently received a letter from the Prosecutor' Office saying
there are no components of a crime. In this light, Minasyan said that
the given construction lacks approved project. Consequently, it is
illegal. In addition, he said, the Covered Market is a historical
and cultural monument protected by the law. The law on preservation
of monuments and the town planning laws have been neglected, he said.

Minasyan thinks that the Elders' Council of Yerevan has not undertaken
the problem probably because of having its own interests in the
project "that are above state interests and laws." Minasyan said that
the Culture Ministry is also engaged in the problem and has already
submitted its resolutions to relevant structures, which undertake
nothing so far. The Union has applied also to the Municipality
calling the construction in the area of the Covered Market barbarism
that is demonstrated by a citizen of Armenia having mandate of a
parliamentarian.

For his part, Alexander Badalyan, Deputy Head of the Union of
Architects, said that public can help settling the problem, for
instance, by boycotting the chain of supermarkets of Armenian
businessman- parliamentarian Samvel Alexanyan, who is behind the
construction in the area of the Covered Market.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

This project is showing the reality in Armenia, where the oligarchs can do as they please the law enforcement agencies will not do anything about it. Most people seem to not give a xxxx about it.
One thing I am wondering where are all those self proclaimed patriots, why aren't they speaking up when this monument is being destroyed.

[Haykakan]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Welcome to capitalism-i hope you will enjoy the big box store looks coming to a neigborhood near you in Yerevan. Armenia is becoming more and more like the USA and a great example of why you need to be careful what you wish for. Here is a talk i enjoyed on this subject.

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_howard_kunstler_dissects_suburbia.html

This project is showing the reality in Armenia, where the oligarchs can do as they please the law enforcement agencies will not do anything about it. Most people seem to not give a xxxx about it.
One thing I am wondering where are all those self proclaimed patriots, why aren't they speaking up when this monument is being destroyed.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Welcome to capitalism-i hope you will enjoy the big box store looks coming to a neigborhood near you in Yerevan. Armenia is becoming more and more like the USA and a great example of why you need to be careful what you wish for. Here is a talk i enjoyed on this subject.
http://www.ted.com/talks/james_howar..._suburbia.html

This has nothing to do with capitalism and you know it! Being a socialist nation or any other kind of nation would not have stop this!
Actually if Armenia was really capitalistic then this would not have happened. A scum who doesn't know how to run an efficient business would have gone bankrupt ages ago if it wasn't for his political connection from stopping anyone else to import certain goods in to Armenia. So can you know please explain how this is capitalims fault, when capitalism is for a free market and competition. This to me seems more something that is a left over from the communistic days! Where some individuals where given protection to do as they pleased!

This seems to be some kind of a joke or something! Talking about preserving the city while one of his party members is destroying one of the old cities monument and he is not doing anything against it!

We cannot build new Yerevan without preserving the old one – Taron Margaryan

We cannot build new Yerevan without preserving the old one – Taron MargaryanApril 11, 2013 | 17:00

YEREVAN.- It is impossible to build a new capital without preserving the old one, incumbent mayor Taron Margaryan said during his Thursday meeting with voters of Arabkir district.

Margaryan, who is heading the proportional list of тхе Republican Party, promised to preserve the historic face of Yerevan filling it with new buildings, if he is elected for the second term.

“It is impossible to build something new without preserving the past. This is the rule that we will follow to make our capital more beautiful,” he said.

Voting for the Republican Party of Armenia, people will vote for clean streets and yards, as well as good infrastructure, Margaryan added.

The election to the Yerevan Council is slated for May 5. Six parties and one bloc are running in the election. The Council will appoint Mayor of Yerevan.

[Haykakan]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Hey Karo the answer to your question "how is this capitalisms fault?" is in the video i posted which i guess you did not watch. As i tell my students-it is ok to ask questions-but you don't even bother looking at the answer.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Hey Karo the answer to your question "how is this capitalisms fault?" is in the video i posted which i guess you did not watch. As i tell my students-it is ok to ask questions-but you don't even bother looking at the answer.

The video has nothing to do with your 'point'.

[Haykakan]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

The video has nothing to do with your 'point'.

Well there are only a few ways to inepret this answer.
1. I did not watch the video and fu and any point you wanna make caus my mind is a steel trap impervious of facts around me.
2. Iwatched the vid but i am incapable of making basic connections between anything that implies a relationship.
3. I watched the vid and made the connection but i am going to pretend it does not exist because it counters my perception of reality.
Unlike most multiple choice questions you dont get the option of all of the above on this one. So tell me Karo which of these is your answer?

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Yerevan's famous covered market demolished

Well there are only a few ways to inepret this answer.
1. I did not watch the video and fu and any point you wanna make caus my mind is a steel trap impervious of facts around me.
2. Iwatched the vid but i am incapable of making basic connections between anything that implies a relationship.
3. I watched the vid and made the connection but i am going to pretend it does not exist because it counters my perception of reality.
Unlike most multiple choice questions you dont get the option of all of the above on this one. So tell me Karo which of these is your answer?

Watched the video and the connection you are trying to make is not there in the video.
Even if we follow your strain of thought were capitalism is this evil that dissolves into crappy architecture and bad planning, let's ignore London and most of the 19th century architecture.
It would still not apply to Armenia where there is no thing as capitalism. Even if capitalism is this evil force you are describing it to be, doesn't apply to Armenia where it doesn't exist.
The only thing that exists in Armenia today is an oligarchy, where the whole economy is in the hands of a few people and uphold by illegal means.
It has nothing to do with a free market and competition, the basic premises of capitalism!