Elahieh
Elahiyeh, an opulent neighborhood in Tehran, stands as a symbol of affluence in Iran. Not only does it host the nation's most valuable properties, but it's also a thriving hub for residential and commercial activities. This coveted area is the residence of choice for numerous politicians, diplomats, expatriates, artists, and the original founders who have shaped Elahiyeh into the prestigious enclave it is today.
At its heart, Elahiyeh boasts Tehran's priciest real estate, where property values soar to an astonishing $2000 per square foot, drawing parallels with the opulence of Beverly Hills, California. Furthermore, Elahiyeh is privileged to accommodate the embassy clubhouses of several nations, including Russia, Turkey, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Iceland, Cuba, and Finland.
Regarded as the crowning jewel of Tehran's real estate landscape, Elahiyeh is home to some of the capital's most lavish streets. Notably, Fereshteh Street, the most renowned thoroughfare in the district, was once renowned for its tranquility and lush greenery. However, it underwent a significant transformation after the Islamic revolution, particularly during the construction boom of the 1990s, when Gholamhossein Karbaschi and Ghalibaaf held the mayoral reins in Tehran. In this period, vast gardens and grand estates gave way to upscale high-rises, leading to a substantial increase in the neighborhood's population.
While this evolution has elevated Elahiyeh to unprecedented levels of luxury, it has also presented challenges in the form of congested narrow alleys, particularly during summer nights when traffic grinds to a standstill. Despite these minor setbacks, Elahiyeh remains an epitome of elegance, securing its place as the most expensive locale in Tehran and the entire country.
About
Elahiyeh is an upper class district in Northern Tehran, actually a part of Shemiran. Before Shemiran was officially incorporated into the city of Tehran, the area consisted of expensive residences and gardens used as summer homes for wealthy residents of Tehran. Today however residential towers and upscale penthouses have replaced them for good and few of those gardens have actually escaped development.
Persian classical musician Esmaiel Mehrtash was living in Koohyar street in Fereshteh Avenue. Esmail Mehrtash, a tar player and musician, established Jame'eh Barbod in 1926, where operettas such as "Leili & Majnoun", "Khosrow & Shirin" as well as "Khayyam" went on stage.
Mahmoud Hessaby (1903–1992) a prominent Iranian scientist, researcher and distinguished professor of University of Tehran also lived in Elahieh on Hessaby Street. He was the receiver of the medal of the commandeur de la Légion d'honneur, France's highest scientific medal in 1957 for his achievements, including his classic paper on "Continuous particles" and his model of "Infinitely extended particles".
The house of the former military leader and Cabinet Minister of Iran during Reza Shah Lieutenant General Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi (1884–1974) (now a museum) is in Elahieh on Hessabi Street, and is the newly opened Iranian Art Garden Museum, which is home to some replicas of Iran's best known historical monuments, an art gallery, and a nice outdoor cafe. Sepahbod Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi was the first Iranian lieutenant General in Iran. He was appointed as the minister of interior (1942) and minister of war (1948) during Reza Shah dynasty. He was also appointed a senator to the first senate and held it for sixteen years.
Most of the land in this district once belonged to Fakhr ol dowleh, a daughter of Mozaffareddin Shah Qajar, known to be the richest woman in Iran during her life.