Chilly
So it's rather chilly out now, and we're already at the time of year when an early snow is possible - though nothing to count on. Unfortunately, it's chilly inside my apartment too, as for some reason the gas has been turned off in the center. Shooshig warned me of this yesterday, and unfortunately, she was right.I just found the blog of an Iraqi-Armenian who has moved to Armenia. It's quite interesting to get the Iraqi-Armenian perspective.
Today is the 2nd Ter-Petrossian speech at the Opera (tonight). I don't know if I'll go - most the people I know who have gone have been rubberneckers, not supporters, and I am not sure I want to contribute to the swelling of his supposed ranks with rubberneckers. However, he is supposed to provide an explanation for his shortcomings today, which would be quite interesting - though I'm not sure I'd understand all the academic Armenian.
This morning is, unless they changed the date, is the official opening of the Northern Avenue! Now, people have been using it already for weeks, but yesterday it was cordoned off and police were keeping people out, while last minute work was frantically being done. In case you don't know, the Northern Avenue is the new pedestrian avenue linking the two hubs of central Yerevan - the Opera and Republic Square. Most of the buildings lining it are not quite done yet, but the exteriors are for the most part complete. The photo is from just 2 weeks ago.
posted by Raffi K. at 7:55 AM
9 Comments:
One blog claimed the gas being turned off was meant as a reminder to what the days of Levon were like and a warning against returning to them.
Of course I think this is idiotic because we all know the many extenuating circumstances surrounding the first couple of years and it's bizarre to think if the same man came to power everything would suddenly revert to 1992-conditions, however the seed of doubt it attempting to be sew I guess.
That said I have no confirmation this is actually a government plan, but the blogger who stated it didn't seem to be joking.
What is your opinion of Northern Avenue? I know a year or two ago during the massive evictions some were calling NA an abomination... that it destroyed Armenian culture and class and instead put up typical cookie-cutter storefronts which could be found in any European country, etc. If it's a nice looking place it's a nice looking place- it can't be as bad as those said it is, can I?
hehe, that's an impressive conspiracy theory - but I doubt it has truth to it. I did today see a notice posted in a stairwell that the gas would be turned off yesterday and today to fix something. I think it's meant to be turned back on in an hour, and despite hoping they'd turn it on early, no such luck... let's now hope it's not turned on late.
The N. Ave. looks alright, parts of it are even quite nice - but having a pedestrian street will definitely be a relief what with Yerevan's new-found traffic. The shortcut is also nice. As far as what it replaced, well 90% of it was junk. The 10% was some of the nicer old architecture of Yerevan, which is rare enough as it is... so what should have been done? I dunno.
The only thing we don't doubt is that the people living in these places were not compensated nearly enough to buy anything remotely as central or large in Yerevan, while those building have made a mint off of them.
I'm trying to find out more about the project and opinions on it in general. I found a commenter at Blogrel claiming:
"North Avenue is probably one of the worst examples of urban planning I’ve ever encountered. As a pedestrian mall designed to attract foot traffic its so unappealing that any retail outlets in that dried-out canyon will probably close in a hurry."
That sounds like someone is bitter and exaggerating, right? I can't imagine it being that dire, but I'd like the critique of that opinion from someone who has been there.
Also I read in an ABGU magazine article from a few years ago that Main Avenue project is supposed to finished by 2008. I remember hearing about the need to save Kond but haven't heard anything in awhile. The article implied that the real historical treasures will be lost because of Main, not North. How is that going?
You saw the North Avenue less than 4 months ago, right? Surely you have your opinion...
I will say though that the comment you quoted would not have been allowed on this blog to begin with, it's so ridiculous.
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Looks pretty decent. Hate the parking lot entrances in the middle of the boulevard, and the blue covers are horrible! Those underground parking lot ventilation holes, or whatever you call them, are also quite stupid. But again, overall it looks pretty good. Would have been nice if there was a fountain or two, maybe place the Kara Bala statue at the end of the boulevard on the Abovyan end.
Emporio Armani opening on the Abovyan end, and supposedly another SFC (the Armenian KFC rip off franchise), and supposedly a Hard Rock Cafe!!!
By the way, our first major food franchise opens on Mashtots very soon ... an actual KFC (the Russian branch called Rostik's KFC.)
Main Avenue opening in 2008? Impossible.
The only thing that's disgusting about Northern Ave. is the painted sidewalks like it's freakin' Epcot Center. Otherwise, it came together better than I anticipated and frankly, it is definitely nice to have the pedestrian shortcut without the traffic. These days, any walking experience without cars coming at you from every direction is necessary. As for complains of urban whatever... some buildings are a shame to lose... but most were eye-soars begging to be torn down. I remember working in that area before the first brick was knocked down. Very little was worth salvaging. I think there was a mud hut across my street.
guys, c'mon stop picking on north avenue.. i think it's great! hehe
I just got back from my first trip to Yerevan. You have a nice city there.
The politics seems exciting but I'm a bit wary of Mr Ter-Petrosyan now after spending an afternoon with one of his most active campaigners. Right in front of the Rostik's/KFC on Mashtots he mentioned that Kocharian's wife is Jewish and then blurted out that Hitler was right about the Jews!
By the way, when is the Rostik's supposed to open?!
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