Yerevan set to rename Leningradyan Street in honor of Kirk Kerkorian

The Yerevan City Council will debate the proposed renaming of Leningradyan Street to Kirk Kerkorian Street during its meeting on October 23.

The proposal was introduced by the Hanrapetutyun faction, which is part of the city council majority, Civil Contract.

Kirk Kerkorian was an Armenian-American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He provided $242 million in charitable contributions to Armenia through his Lincy Foundation, which was established in 1989. The foundation particularly focused on helping rebuild Armenia after the devastating 1988 earthquake.

In the early 2000s, Armenia bestowed upon Kerkorian the title of National Hero.

Kerkorian was a key figure in shaping Las Vegas. He built the world’s largest hotel in Las Vegas three times: the International Hotel (opened in 1969), the original MGM Grand Hotel (1973), and the current MGM Grand (1993). He also purchased the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio in 1969.

Kerkorian passed away in 2015 at the age of 98.