On March 7, the Armenian government approved a bill on “Yerevan’s Small Kentron administrative district’s development”.

“The initiative aims to prevent over-urbanization of the small center,” Ruzanna Alaverdyan, Deputy Minister of Urban Development said.

As she noted, the construction norms envisaging expansion of green areas in the rest of the capital’s districts can’t be applied to Small Kentron.

“Green” architecture, urban development, as well as energy efficiency technologies have been noted among the principles of the plan, with the “green roof” concept introduced. The initiative stipulates prohibition of partial change of roofs and upper floors and creation of a buffer zone in Hrazdan River gorge.

Commenting on the journalists’ remarks suggesting “the authorities delayed development of the concept”, the deputy minister disagreed with it, saying “Better late than never.”