HANDS OFF 44 HANRAPETUTYAN STREET! YEREVAN SENIOR PROTECTS HOME FROM DEMOLITION - PHOTOS/VIDEO

Kristine Aghalaryan

19:08, March 30, 2015

Eighty-six year-old Albert Makyan, who lives at 44 Hanrapetutyan Street
in Yerevan, posted a sign above the entrance to his home that reads,
"Please don't try touching 44 Hanrapetutyan."

The 23-member family is in limbo.

If the private property, now considered eminent domain is flattened,
11 young children will become homeless since the Makyan's promised
home, as compensation, has yet to be built by the developers.

The Yerevan Municipality has listed "Firdusi" neighborhood and 44
Hanrapetutyan as eminent domain. At the end of February the home's
neighboring properties were demolished and the area was flattened.

On demolition day Makyan took the permit from the diggers' hands and
ripped it up. The permit allowed for part of Makyan's property to be
flattened, so he didn't let them near.

On November 20, 2008, the Armenian government decided to designate
various properties as eminent domain in the public's interest. The
property in question was handed over to City Centre Development LLC.

The company signed an agreement with Makyan in 2009 transferring
ownership of the 126.2 sq m. residential home, the 645 sq m. property
and the surrounding buildings and territories, all valued at 201
million dram.

As part of the agreement, City Centre Development committed to
appropriate seven homes in an apartment building, three parking spaces
and a public space in Yerevan's 33rd District to the Makyans 42 months
(3.5 years) after the signing. The company had 12 months to back
out of the agreement. Six years have passed since the agreement was
signed and the construction time limit was set at 1.5 years.So far,
only the building's foundation and the first floor have been built
and construction has stopped.

City Centre Development was founded in 2006. The company operates at
the same address as Glendale Hills and Downtown Yerevan LLC, which
has the rights to develop Kond.

The above video was produced by the company in May 2012 to prove
that construction was underway in the 33rd district. As of the end
of March, nothing has changed as Hetq's photos clearly show. What's
more, construction equipment has been removed from the area and the
tower crane will be relocated soon.

"They're saying that they aren't building homes anymore, they have no
money, they can't build," Makyan said. "They gave me this contract,
and now they're breaking it, deceiving us. They didn't build the
first building or the second one. If the notary, the government, that
seal and signature are all valid, then how can you have that kind of
attitude towards people? It means war will break out between us."

The person on behalf of the company giving that explanation, according
to Makyan, is named Tigran. Tigran refused to answer our questions by
phone or even meet with us. He told Hetq that a specific department
in the company handles such requests and if the need arises they will
contact us. "Be satisfied with the response that we have notified them
[of your request] in writing," Tigran told Hetq. The Makyans, however,
have not received an answer to date.

Albert Makyan has appealed to the government. The Ministry of Finance
responded that the official agency that handles matters related to
expropriation is the Yerevan Municipality as well as the appropriator,
City Centre Development. "We inform you that City Centre Development
is responsible for its own obligations related to its own properties,"
stated the head of the Ministry of Finance Legal Department Armen
Gabrielyan.

Design Plans for Buildings to be Constructed in the 33rd District

Mr. Makyan also appealed to the Prosecutor General's Office. Deputy
Prosecutor of Yerevan S. Arakelyan replied that the matter was out
of the Prosecutor General Office's jurisdiction and is subject to
being settled in court since the issue involves civil liability.

The residents of 44 Hanrapetutyan sent a letter to Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Hovik Aprahamyan stating: "Mr.

President and Mr. Prime Minister, the 33rd District is in deplorable,
unsanitary condition. We demand that we be furnished with apartments
as was agreed upon in the initial agreement. We have not received
a concrete answer from the construction department. One hundred
fifty square meters of property have been demolished, more than 30
trees were cut and the surrounding areas have been damaged. If the
apartments will not be built, we demand that our property deeds be
returned to us so that we may put our living space in order."

Makyan Family Property Already Demolished (highlighted in red)

The Makyan family came to Yerevan from Baku in 1988. The message
painted by Mr. Makyan on the rear door promises "death" to
trespassers. In his eyes, the law takes priority.

http://hetq.am/eng/news/59338/hands-off-44-hanrapetutyan-street!-yerevan-senior-protects-home-from-demolition.html