A number of residents living in downtown Yerevan have sent an open letter to several political parties in Armenia, asking for their assistance in halting construction of a high-rise building in their backyard.

The site, on Nalbandian Street, once housed a kindergarten that was demolished last year. A construction company has taken over the site and plans to build a luxury residential building.

Neighborhood residents claim that the construction is illegal ad that a planned for underground garage will weaken the seismic strength of apartment buildings dating back to the 1950s and 1960s that circle the area.

Residents say that MP’s belonging to the Heritage Party and ARF have raised the issue within the government, but no steps have been taken to halt construction.

Their letter has been sent to the Free Democrats Party, Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Heritage Party, ARF and Rule of Law.