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Save Beirut Heritage is calling for a sit in on Sunday May 1st at 12 noon at the previous location of Cinema Vendome, Mar Mikhael Street.
This is a Report of an abomination that happened in the recent days. For Arabic, read this:http://www.al-akhbar.com/?q=node%2F10615
HAR properties managed to obtain a permit of demolition for 3 significant heritage buildings in Mar Mikhayel near the previous cinema Vendome Cinema in order to make space for a 30 story tower called AYA tower (Plot Beirut 663).
The only compromise was to keep the facades; this is unacceptable.
Furthermore, these permits were obtained through political coercion and gross abuse of power by the owners of the plots; namely Mr. Fahed Rafic Hariri, Mr. Michel Pharaon, Mr. Antoine Samaha and Mr. Fouad Zeidan.
You will find attached photos of the recently demolished buildings, feel free to use them in your respective publications. "The photos in this post"
The buildings demolished had been previously classified as architecturally significant by a committee designated by the Ministry of Culture. This same committee resigned once Minister Salim Wardeh succumbed to political pressure and overturned their decision to preserve the buildings. He granted demolition permits.
In the same breath, three more significant buildings were granted permits and are in imminent danger:
1 - A gorgeous building that is owned by Mr. Michel Pharaon in Achrafieh will be demolished so that he could build parking space and raise it by 3 stories.
2 - Sodeco Plot 5, owner by Mr. Michel Pharaon and Mr. Samaha: A beautiful traditional house.
3 - Abdallah Al Yafi's Villa that will be demolished to be 'reconstructed' as part of a 30 floor tower.
Save Beirut Heritage is calling for a sit in on Sunday May 1st at 12 noon at the previous location of Cinema Vendome, Mar Mikhael Street. We as the Green Party of Lebanon Highly encourage the participation in this sit in.
"This is their website: Green party of Lebanon"
