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From: "Architexturez." <interface.services@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2006 00:51:55 +0530
Symbol of American jazz culture faces demolition
www.chinaview.cn 2006-08-05 07:31:31
BEIJING, Aug. 5 -- A renowned symbol of American architecture and jazz
in Beijing faces demolition on Sunday, adding to concern that too much
of the city's past culture and diversity is being erased in the quest
for modernity.
American Douglas Monitto spent the last years of his life importing the
materials to build a replica of a 19th-century Louisiana mansion on the
outskirts of Chaoyang Park in eastern Beijing. Monitto's widow, Mary,
said they spent more than US$1 million to fly everything from a New
Orleans jazz club, The Big Easy, into China, after being encouraged to
open the music outpost by local authorities and signing a 13-year
contract in 1998.
Mary Monitto said she received a notice from Chaoyang Park in January
ordering her to vacate the mansion within two weeks, even though the
contract runs until 2011.
cont'd....
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/05/content_4921535.htm