NORTHERN AVENUE DEVELOPMENT MISTAKES ARE CONDITIONED BY NECESSITY TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN A SHORT TIME, UAA CHAIRMAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The mistakes related to high density
and the large number of storeys in development of Northern Avenue
in Yerevan are the result of the haste, which was conditioned by
the necessity to make investments in a short time. Chairman of the
Union of Architects of Armenia (UAA) Mkrtich Minasian expressed this
opinion during the May 11 discussion with the participation of the
Chief Architect of Yerevan Samvel Danielian and the Director of
the Yerevanproject Institute Gurgen Musheghian. In the words of
M. Minasian, Northeren Avenue would have been better developed,
if the existing problems had been discussed in a more detailed
way. G. Musheghian noted that Northern Avenue and other zones currently
being developed in the center of Yerevan will be transformed from a
residential and business area into a business district, which is due
to the process of the city’s natural development.

According to S. Danielian, the issue of land allocation in the green
zones of Yerevan has also been dealt with in a hurry. In his opinion,
if large land plots in these zones had been leased, the number of cafes
would have been smaller. M. Minasian said that many owners of cafes
near the Opera and Ring-Shaped Park have realized that these green
zones are overloaded, and they intend to reduce the development work
in these parts of the city. The chief architect noted that unfounded
land allocations are the cause of irregular development in Hrazdan
Gorge – the only recreational zone of the city. However, according
to UAA Chairman, the situation is improving: there have been some
successful architectural solutions, while the city authorities are
now implementing restoration work, particularly, the river-bed is
being cleaned.