Deconstructed in Secret, “Old Tbilisi”

Project of "Ardix"

Although Georgian Ministry of Culture and Old Tbilisi State administration protested, Tbilisi City Hall passed legislation that gives permission for the demolishment of the building in Old Tbilisi. Is it necessary to tear down the building on the corner of Tabidze and Leonidze Street, at such time as if the City Hall “ordered” to destroy the house? Why certain people do not want Old Tbilisi to be inserted on the UNESCO Heritage List?

The union “Tbilisis Hamkari” organized a warning protest in Liberty Square in Tbilisi several days ago. They were standing in protest over the tearing down of a building located at the corner of Leonidze and Tabidze streets. Aleko Elisashvili, representative of the union, reported that the three-storied house dated back to XIX century had been illegally deprived from the status of a historical monument. It is also now scheduled to be destroyed. He claimed that relatives of high-ranking officials and businesspersons are interested in building a new building on the site. However, their financial interests contradict the law. More precisely, those with vested  interests include an architect, Levan Bokeria, who just happens to be the father of Giga Bokeria, deputy Foreign Minister; Lado Targamadze, brother of the MP Givi Targamadze and Lasha Papashvili, the chairperson of the Supervision Board of the Bank “Respublika”.

Aleko Elisashvili could not provide us with relevant document. However, it was not difficult to understand the involvement of the above-mentioned persons and how they are actually tied up with this affair.  Although, the new project has not yet been confirmed, the sign board of the future building is displayed on the front of the old building. It is interesting that it is openly displayed – as who stands behind the project, the owner of the building are Developer Company “Redix” whose Director General is Lado Papashvili; project organization “Lebo” Ltd that belongs to Levan Bokeria and construction organization “Arkstudia PM” that belongs to Zaza Targamadze, related to Givi Targamadze, MP.  The construction of the multi-functional building will start in 2008 and is to be finished in 2010. The banner also exposes the date and work permit number for the project. It is noteworthy that the permission is issued on the deconstruction of the old building but it is not specially issued for the construction of a new one in its place.

Conversation with Mzia Sharashidze, PR Manager of the Developer Company “Redix” revealed that the building located in Leonidze Street # 2 has been the property of the company for one year. However, Mr. Papashvili has been purchasing the building from its owner in installments over a term of 10-12 years. Initially, the plan of destroying the old and construction of the new one in the area, was discussed by Old Tbilisi Commission last year. Maka Shavishvili, the head of Department for Protection and Heritage within the Ministry of Culture recalled the situation. She was the member of the commission that had discussed plans sometime last year.

In total, “This project has been discussed four times; there was great argument about it; finally it was turned down.” Aleko Elisashvili claims the building was cultural heritage and it was intentionally deprived of its rightful status because there are some “serious” business interests connected to it.

Nino Kordzakhia, the head of the Supervision Service Department of the Old Tbilisi State Administration, stated that the building was removed from the list of cultural heritage in October 2007 when the destruction of the building was initially on the table for discussion.

“Generally, the houses that have been assigned or “should be” designated historic status cannot be destroyed. That building is one that actually deserves to be a cultural monument. You should just ask the Ministry as why they did not include it on the list of heritage.”

The ministry is authorized to decide whether the building is a cultural monument or not. The officials of the ministry explained that before 2007 the list was drawn up in 1980s. Then the Ministry reorganized it and discovered new buildings too. Those buildings are called buildings carrying historic features. It is first stage to grant the construction with the status of cultural monument or not. That particular house was one of those newly discovered monuments. Anyway, it is fact that it was not granted with the status. However, nobody can seize the house the status of the building located in the zone under historic protection. And consequently, it should be protected by the law. Any kind of activities carried out regarding the building concerning over its tearing down should be done with the agreement of the Urban Planning Department of the Tbilisi City Hall. Then the permission should be discussed by the Old Tbilisi Commission. It is then and only then that a building can be destroyed; only when it is clear that it is impossible to be rehabilitated.

Four members of the Commission out of total nine claimed that the building could be rehabilitated. Nino Kordzakhia confirmed the fact too.

“Old Tbilisi is in the State Protection Zone; if the building is seriously damaged and it cannot be rehabilitated and does not have any particular value, it can be deconstructed. However, both the place and the building deserved the status of cultural heritage sites.”

80 percent of the buildings are damaged. I am architect and restaurateur and I know there are many methods, new technologies and means to save such old buildings. It was very easy to repair that building. There are many such buildings in Tbilisi and there will be standing for some time to come.”

Maka Shavishvili recalled those meetings where they discussed the future of the building at the corner of Tabidze and Leonidze streets.

“Their argument for demolishing the building is based on its poor condition.  They claimed the house did not have an independent staircase, and it is possible to construct new staircase and maintain the old façade too. It was promised that they intend to add four more floors. Their plan was completely unacceptable architecturally. In this case, the scale and proportion will be also damaged.

Finally the session ended with four refusals reinforced with arguments and five groundless acceptances to tear down the building. However, the group that is against the project met the company that had ordered the new construction. We tried to explain to them the real situation but it was all in vain.”

The project was introduced by Levan Bokeria at the session. He tried to prove the necessity of diminishing the building based on conclusions of various experts. Although, Old Tbilisi Administration and Ministry of Culture claimed the building can be rehabilitated, the City Hall moved forward and approved the conclusion of the expertise carried out on the side of the interested parties.

Guram Tavadze is the head of the Division for Historical Zone of the Urban Planning Service Department within the Tbilisi City Hall. Guram Tavadze working in this office reported that the initial plan for seven storied building was turned down and the project was not accepted. However, they issued the permission on the deconstruction of this building. So far we have spoken about the positions of the Old Tbilisi Administration and Ministry of Culture. Now, here is the position as taken by the Tbilisi City Hall.

“Certain people just say that the building can be rehabilitated. But, the other side can provide the conclusion. Their position is quite clear for me when they state that the building is being destroyed and bricks can even fall on innocent people in the street. Who will be responsible for their safety and health? Such a conclusion was completed by a constructive bureau and it was Redix that had ordered to carry out the evaluation. We wanted to reinforce the construction of the building but it proved impossible.”

Nino Kordzakhia: “Experts can write anything what you ask but if you want to reinforce the building they will give conclusions how it should be carried out. And if you want to destroy the building, they will give you a new project.”

PR manager of the Redix states it is project of future. Thus, it is not reported when the building will be destroyed. We got interested in the conclusion of the experts who concluded that the house should be pulled down. Although there is a banner on the building stating the construction will end in 2010 the conversation between Mzia Sharashidze and between the human rights center was as follows.

Fate of Building Discussed

-When do you intend to destroy the house?
-We have not decided yet whether we will pull it down or not.

-You have conclusion of the experts that states that the building cannot be rehabilitated?

Nothing is ready yet. It is too early to speak about concrete conclusions.

-That means you do not have a conclusion yet that states the building must be pulled down?

-Such things cannot be arranged gradually; it is project for the future…

-So, maybe you will not destroy it but did you make a decision?

-I will have to speak about things that are not real. We have not had yet conducted a full discussion about that building.

-I just wonder, did the expertise of the building was carried out? Do you hold a conclusion?

-You demand me to give unreal answer. Nothing has been settled yet; we have not decided to pull it down or not. It is project of future that is uncertain when and how it will be actually implemented.

At the demonstration Aleko Elisashvili stated that the deconstruction of the building will threat introduction of Old Tbilisi in the UNESCO List of Heritage. Representatives of the UNESCO are in Tbilisi now and they are leading negotiations with the Ministry of Culture.

Maka Shavishvili: “Currently the negotiations are going on that issue. We were against the deconstruction based on the requests of the UNESCO. However, only that particular building cannot settle the introduction of the Old Tbilisi in the List of Heritage. Everything, that is happening in the area of Old Tbilisi and this too might create problem.”

Nino Kordzakhia: “Old Tbilisi was on the UNESCO list of heritage but because of absence of protection mechanisms, it was taken off the list.  There is no particular desire among corresponding bodies to join the list because there will be serious restriction for future projects. Moreover, our government does not appreciate such kinds of restrictions.

Readers should decide whether the building should to be pulled down because of private interests of certain people or because of actual need. At least, currently has been only one permission issued, and it is associated with tearing down the old building. As for the permission on the construction of a new five-storied building, which does not exist; there is still some opportunity to save the house on the corner of Tabidze and Leonidze Streets from deconstruction.