The historical house of Mirza Mohammad Farrokhi Yazdi, an Iranian poet and journalist (1889-1939), in Yazd Province is to be handed over to the municipality to resume its suspended retrofitting project.
The mansion was willingly passed into the ownership of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization by Reza Sokhandan, a relative to the late poet in 2009 to be renovated to serve as a museum.
Although a large part of the restoration project has been carried out, its completion was delayed due to some hitches, prompting complaints by heritage experts, ISNA reported. Hossein Maserrat, a heritage researcher, has voiced criticism about the unclear state of the house in a letter to relevant authorities, as a result of which the Yazd City Council stepped in to settle the issue.
The council's commission on cultural affairs held a meeting with provincial ICHHTO officials to decide the fate of the historical house.
The negotiating parties agreed to pass the building on to the municipality to continue the rehabilitation job.
Reportedly, the building is almost completely restored and will be ready for operation after being furnished as planned.
"The house is supposed to operate as a cultural complex, including a number of cultural clubs, an association for the literary figures and a museum to feature Farrokhi's personal stuff, including books, poetry collections and so on," Maserrat said.
According to Venus Ameri, head of the commission on cultural affairs, the house needs minor structural work in addition to what ICHHTO has done so far.
"We are making attempts to accelerate the transfer procedures so that the house can operate as a cultural center as soon as possible," she said.
