European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It us s i russian Folk group dances in a St. Petersburg Park. In the background is a statue of Peter the great. Old City nervously confronts future while trying to save past glory Petersburg  the new York times. The people at the St. Petersburg inspectorate for the preservation of monuments have mixed feelings about what is going on these Days at the Yusupov Palace a mansion on the Moika canal where Hrigori Rasputin the siberian Monk who wielded a sinister influence Over the family of the last Czar met a grisly end in december 1916. Once the exclusive preserve of the Trade Union of education workers the mansion in the last two years has opened its doors wide to the Public maybe too wide some say. Tour groups tramp through the basement where the famous murder took place while upstairs elegant rooms recently restored Are made available for concerts and private parties including a new year s eve gala organized by Neiman Marcus the Texas based department store. There Are different ways of looking at it said Alexander Poz Dukhov who Heads the City s historic preservation department. Of course the Union needs the Money to maintain the building but we also worry about the damage from too Many people from High heels from people being careless drinking and "  this is a typical quandary these Days for the guardians of St. Petersburg s historical legacy As they nervously watch this fragile and Beautiful City de its Way toward a Market Economy. The changes have been slow in coming but new stores hotels and restaurants Are springing up along Nevsky Prospect the City s Central Avenue behind 18th and 19th-Century facades retrieved from beneath a heavy coat of soviet veneer the worry Here is that the new economic order could overpower St. Petersburg s delicate majesty and Sully its artful asymmetrical vectors of streets and Waterways with commercial clutter. We worry that by the time of the City s 300th anniversary we will not be Able to keep its development within civilized Bounds Poz Dukhov said. The Issue Here is maintaining a High level of  it has been nearly 2v4 years since this City built by Peter the great on the swampy Banks of the Neva River 12 stripes Magazine february 17, 1994 r