Residents of Teryan Street buildings that encircle a little bit of green space in downtown Yerevan are concerned that someone will come in and build a store or two.

Years ago, locals planted trees and grapevines in the empty lot in an attempt to create a tiny oasis of green and serenity.

Resident Ghoukas Haroutyunyan told Hetq that this past Saturday, as residents were cleaning the site, two men approached and berated them for illegally planting trees and bushes. One said he was from the Yerevan Municipality but didn’t give his name.

The “official” told residents that the municipality had given its approval for the construction of 3 commercial stalls at the site.

Hetq sent an inquiry to the municipality for some clarification. We were informed that it had indeed received a construction request but that it was still being reviewed. Their response failed to mention what company or individual had filed the request.

“If they are reviewing the request, in all likelihood it will be approved,” said Ghoukas Haroutyunyan, who worked at the municipality for twenty years.

Haroutyunyan said the municipality had received the building request some 2-3 months ago and that it should have been rejected or approved by now.

He said residents would fight tooth and nail if the request is approved.

“Right now, we are working to get the request rejected,” said Haroutyunyan.

On October 10, residents signed a letter addressed to Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan urging him not to grant a construction permit.

The municipality wrote back saying the petition had been received and that a final answer would be forthcoming in thirty days.

39 days have come and gone and residents haven’t received any such reply.

On November 17, the day marked for a fall planting of trees in Yerevan, residents say they once again cleaned their beloved green oasis.