Dalma Garden Mall Expands Without Construction Permits: Foundations Being Dug

Illegal construction is underway at the back of Dalma Garden Mall located at 3 Tsitsernakaberd Highway in Yerevan, without the necessary urban planning permits. Land work is being conducted behind the shopping and entertainment complex, with holes exceeding 3-4 meters being dug. This was reported by Hetq.

In photos taken by Hetq back in 2020, it is evident that excavation work began at least in July of the previous year and continued into September. Last week, our cameras captured the excavator and the fenced area where the excavation is taking place.

The Yerevan Municipality confirmed that no construction permits have been issued to Dalma Invest LLC since 2018. Attempts to obtain clarification on the illegal construction through the shopping center’s information desk revealed that the company’s commercial director, who is responsible for addressing such matters, is unwell and does not attend work. However, it was also stated that the same director insists that no construction work is being carried out.

Dalma Invest LLC applied to the Yerevan Municipality back in 2019 to obtain a design permit for the purpose of expanding the shopping complex. Mayor Hayk Marutyan granted the company a permit for the design of an annex. It was stipulated that the annex should include a semi-basement and two stories above ground (with a possibility for partial additional height) attached to the southwestern facade, with a maximum height of 23 meters based on the leveling mark.

Prior to obtaining the design permit, the company presented a sketch project to the municipality for the construction. According to this, redevelopment is planned where the existing car wash point and parking area are located at the back of the mall.

In the accompanying description of the sketch project, Dalma Invest LLC outlined what they intend to construct. An annex is proposed to be built adjacent to the existing Dalma Garden Mall, continuing its function, vertical indicators, and structural design. The annex is planned to consist of two above-ground floors, with one or two underground levels depending on geological conditions. The external structure of the existing building is intended to be preserved, utilizing travertine cladding and glass on its facades. The area of the annex's construction will be 6,550 square meters, with a total area of 19,650 square meters (with one underground floor). Existing structures, including the car wash area and asphalt paving measuring 900 square meters, as well as water reservoirs of 370 square meters, are slated for demolition. The portal of the existing structure's back entrance will also be demolished.

The company was required to submit the project to the municipality, obtain a construction permit, and only then begin land work and other construction activities. Photos of this project have been published on a Facebook page named “Development and Investment Programs,” which reports that construction will last three years.

The owners of the Dalma Gardens land, Dalma Invest LLC is the owner of an 11.2-hectare land area at 3 Tsitsernakaberd Highway, which was allocated to the company by a decision of the Mayor of Yerevan on November 27, 2009. Dalma Invest is the owner of the Dalma Garden Mall, where former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan's son, Tigran Karapetyan, holds 34.5%, the company’s director Edgar Tigrani Khachatryan owns 19.8%, and 'TI SI RIALTI' LLC holds 45.6%.

TI SI RIALTI LLC was established on March 10, 2020, and entered the shareholding of Dalma Invest on April 22, 2020. The director of the company is Edita Serzhik Avetisyan, daughter of the Supreme Court criminal bench judge Serzhik Avetisyan. It is also noted that the judge's wife, Evelina Avetisyan, is the sister of Eteri Karapetyan, the wife of Samvel Karapetyan, founder of the Tashir Group.