This neighborhood in central Yerevan, hidden away from adjoining Abovyan Street as it enters Republic Square, is undergoing demolition, its residents to be scattered to destinations unknown. The deconstruction represents the beginning of yet another downtown construction project, the nature of which has not been divulged.

As in areas throughout the city's center in response to the ongoing Northern Boulevard construction project, dozens of historical buildings are being raised, some dating as far back as the first Armenian republic-or over 80 years ago, when present-day Yerevan was just beginning to take form.

The reason why this hamlet stayed protected from the public eye is its location, situated directly behind the National History Museum and Art Gallery, and on the right side flanked by a five-floor Stalin-era apartment building sitting at the foot of Nalbandyan Street. Countless families were once living here, not all with modern comforts as some houses erected as temporary shelters decades ago lacked indoor plumbing, with their inhabitants resorting to sharing a public water tap that is never turned off during the winter to prevent the pipes from freezing.

The remaining residents have until February 16 to vacate their homes, after which another piece of modern Yerevan's brief history will be permanently destroyed, albeit in the name of progress.

Christian Garbis