The group behind the proposed Armenian American Museum met with Glendale Community College officials Tuesday to discuss their plans. The cultural center would be built across the street from the college. (Courtesy of the Armenian American Museum)
Organizers who are working to establish a proposed Armenian American Museum that would be located across the street from Glendale Community College spoke to the college’s trustees this week to promote the museum as both a community resource and neighbor to the campus.
The museum would be housed on the corner of Mountain Street and Verdugo Road next to the Glendale Civic Auditorium on a 1.37-acre site currently used as a parking lot.
College officials in recent weeks have met behind closed doors to discuss potentially purchasing the nearby civic auditorium from the city, and on Tuesday, organizers said they are aware of those talks and do not oppose them.
“We think the college and the museum can co-exist in harmony and actually support each other,” said Zaven Kazazian, a member of the museum’s executive committee. “We are not opposed to what the college is doing, and I hope the college is not opposed to what we are doing. We are very much in a process of working with the college. We are planning on making sure of the fact that no matter what happens, that the college will be supporting the museum, and we are going to be supporting the college.”
Some college trustees said they appreciated Kazazian and fellow museum organizers attending the meeting, but did not elaborate on the college’s plans for the auditorium.
Vahe Peroomian, a college trustee, wished the organizers “good luck going forward,” while fellow trustee Ann Ransford said, “Ditto.”
In December, the trustees voted to approve a facilities master plan, which hints at a friendly collaboration between the college and the museum as both parties’ plans unfold.
The master plan indicated that the college’s music program and child development center may be housed in the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
“The development of this site would be planned in coordination with the future Armenian community cultural center should plans for that facility be realized,” the document stated.
Source: Glendale News-Press
Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com