Let the Urbanization Ministry just try
The Culture Subcommittee of the Public Council today held a special session and the letter of protest that the council received was the first topic on the agenda. The protest is against the government's decision to build a tower in the back of the government building at Republic Square.
Citizens Mane Tamanyan, Ani Veranyan and Sevada Petrosyan say sending a letter protesting the construction of the tower is untimely and that the new building doesn't fall in line with Tamanyan's architectural plan.
"Our main objection is that the decisions on such initiatives, especially those related to urbanization are taken by one person or behind closed doors," said Sevada Petrosyan.
"We can't play with what Tamanyan created. We will be responsible for that," said President of the Union of Architects Mkrtich Minasyan.
Architect Levon Igityan was particularly active during the discussion and was surprised to see a discussion on an issue without any materials.
Levon Igityan mentioned that the government still hasn't decided on building a multi-story building with such a tower and even noted that Tamanyan didn't have such a plan, but there is a sketch.
"When it turns into a plan, we will discuss it," said Igityan.
In response, Sevada Petrosyan recalled that there is an announcement of a contest on the Urbanization Ministry's website. "Let them just try to make an announcement. They were announcing the destruction of the summer cinema as well, but nothing happened."
The subcommittee members decided to hold another discussion on the same topic and invite government officials.
In the end, the subcommittee was also supposed to touch upon the placement of a new structure with its unique style in place of the former statue of Lenin at Republic Square, as well as the proposed changes for the coat-of-arms, the flag and the anthem. They were not discussed since the authors of those proposals didn't show up to the session.
