Part of Tatul Krpeyan Park Privately Acquired and Offered for Sale at $2.6 Million

A roughly 2000 square meter area from Tatul Krpeyan Park in the Nor Nork administrative district of Yerevan has been put up for sale. The land plot, which is being offered for $2.6 million, was purchased years ago for a mere 268,000 AMD. The publication "Hetq" has investigated the history of the land's privatization and discovered that the property was transferred through dubious transactions. The current owner of the area is a company owned by Gagik Galstyan, the former rector of the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia.

As one drives up Myasnikyan Avenue towards Nor Nork, a sign advertising the sale of the land is visible at the entrance of Tatul Krpeyan Park. By calling a real estate agency dealing with the sale of the land and posing as a prospective buyer, the media outlet found out the price. It is being sold for $2 million and 600 thousand.

Here is an excerpt from the conversation with the agent:

- Hello. Is your agency selling the land at the beginning of Gay Avenue?

- Yes.
- How much is it?
- It’s 1900 square meters, $2 million 600 thousand.
- See, that land is adjacent to the park; is it part of the park territory?
- No, it has nothing to do with the park. The certificate states that it is specifically that area, 1903 square meters.
- Is it legally privatized land?
- Yes.
- How many meters is the frontage?
- The frontage is about 60-65 meters. It is certified for residential and building development.
- Is it for mixed-use development?
- No, it states it’s for residential and building development. We have also applied to the city hall for clarification on how much tax is on it. We haven’t received a response yet (referring to allowable heights for construction - ed.).
- Recently, the city hall demolished houses in that area; will there be any problems?
- It is behind; it has nothing to do with our land. This plot is first line, and it is all certified ownership. It’s been privatized for a long time.

Through the "Google Earth" program, which presents aerial images, one can see the appearance of the land plot over the years. As of 2000, the plot had trees and shrubs. By May 2004, the area was landscaped. In subsequent years, photographs show how the trees planted in Krpeyan Park and adjacent areas flourished. However, the privatized section has not had any trees planted on it and has turned into an open space. In 2018, the specified area was burned in a fire.

During our visit to the area, we discovered a structure built decades ago, located at the end of the plot in a valley-like section (the structure is partially underground). The plot contained thick-trunked trees from a depth.