declaration signed for planned Armenian American Museum, ‘a jewel in our city’

August 18, 2018 By administrator

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, sitting left, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, sitting right, Reverend Berdj Djambazian, standing left, and Bishop Mikael Mouradian, signed a declaration of partnership regarding the Armenian American Museum during a press conference on Wednesday. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

By Michael Livingston

The Glendale City Council joined faith and community leaders this week in signing a “declaration of partnership” celebrating their work on the future Armenian American Museum.

Museum and city officials inked the document during a joint press conference Wednesday following Glendale City Council’s unanimous approval of the ground lease agreement for the museum’s future site. The event was held on the second floor of the Downtown Central Library, overlooking the southwest corner of Central Park where the museum will be built.

“It’s great to be here on this momentous occasion,” said Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan. “It is a proud day for the city of Glendale and we are excited that the Armenian American Museum’s future home is going to be in our city.”

Initially, the museum was going to be built on a 1.37-acre, city-owned parking lot at Mountain Street and Verdugo Road, but community push-back forced it to be relocated.

Councilwoman Paula Devine said Wednesday was “one of the proudest days of her life” in public service.

“The Armenian American Museum is going to be a jewel in our city and a world class center that we are all going to be proud of,” Devine said.

The $1-a-year ground lease agreement will be for 55 years with options to extend the lease term for four 10-year periods, for a maximum lease of 95 years. The current parking areas around Central Library and park will be turned into additional green space.

Construction on the 60,0000-square-foot, three-story museum will begin within the next year, once museum board members and city officials begin raising funds for the $100-million project and reviewing paperwork, said Berdj Karapetian, museum executive chairman.

The museum will also include a performing arts theater, a learning center, a demonstration kitchen and a café. A parking garage with 2,626 spaces will also be built.

“People from all walks of life will see that the citizens of Glendale led the charge for this marvelous building,” Karapetian said.

Museum officials will announce opportunities for the public to get involved with the project at a later date.

Councilman Vartan Gharpetian spoke about a portion of the museum being dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, the extermination of roughly 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire 103 years ago.

“As a descendant of a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, people ask me how did Armenians survive?” Gharpetian said. “First, we settled into an area we’re comfortable with. We build our churches first, then we build our schools and our cultural centers.

“This is a center for children, as well as present and future residents, to come in and learn about where Armenians came from and where we’re going,” Gharpetian said.

Councilman Ara Najarian, the self-described “Armenian from Ohio,” talked about how committed he would be to the museum.

“I intend to be an active partner because I am committed to this museum, and I will help make sure it is is done timely and with the full community’s support,” Najarian said.

“The museum will be a legacy for the next generation and we have taken a great step towards making the project a reality,” he said.

Glendale: Initial design and lease for Armenian American Museum in Central Park approved

April 21, 2018 By administrator

Initial design and lease for Armenian American Museum

By Jeff Landa,

The early design and lease agreement that would reconfigure Glendale Central Park and make room for the planned Armenian American Museum were approved by the Glendale City Council Tuesday.

Council unanimously agreed on a 55-year lease, with 10-year renewal periods, at $1 annually with the Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California.

They also settled on one of three presented concept designs for the Central Park block, known as the “Grand Steps,” which includes a small event lawn and a library cafe terrace as well as a children’s garden and “splash play” area.

“I’m OK with … the Grand Steps design, not just because it has more green space, but also the stage and the park area will face the paseo next to [the Museum of Neon Art] and you can see from that stage all the way through to the Americana [at Brand],” Councilman Vartan Gharpetian said.

Two years ago, city officials agreed to carve out an area in the southwest corner of Central Park for the three-story, roughly 60,000-square-foot museum with an underground garage.

Planning for the museum was also used as a chance to reimagine the space so it could integrate nearby facilities, such as the Central Library and Adult Recreation Center, as well as create new public and recreational spaces.

The proposed redesign is by a local team from the Sausalito-based architectural design firm SWA Group. The redesign leaves the Central Library and Adult Recreation Center untouched and expands the open-space area from roughly 76,000 square feet to almost 93,000 square feet.

Council members were split 4-1 on two recommended changes by city staff to the first-stage design of the museum. Staff asked council to consider limiting the amount the museum property extends on the northernmost edge of the plaza to 15 feet. Museum officials were asking for 30 feet.

Also, staff requested some type of pedestrian walkway into the museum from the north-south paseo between museum and the Adult Recreation Center. Museum officials were instead seeking to construct a partial wall.

Only Councilwoman Paula Devine sided with staff’s recommendations, saying the additional 15 feet would remove promised green space for the community, and closing the paseo side of the museum diminishes the goals of “connectivity.”

“This is a beautiful design, but I really liked the scheme where there was a passageway so that everything was connected,” Devine said. “It seems like this is segregating not integrating, and I just think this whole block is supposed to be a community-oriented place.”

The paseo is also the planned location of sculptures dedicated to Glendale’s sister cities.

However, Mayor Zareh Sinanyan and council members Gharpetian, Vrej Agajanian and Ara Najarian sided with the museum’s proposed design.

“Because the building has such grand and wide entrances on the south side and north side, I don’t think we really need that extra opening on the east, I just don’t think it’s going to add anything.” Najarian said.

California Governor signs state budget with $3 million for Armenian American Museum

June 28, 2017 By administrator

Photo: Getty Images

California Governor Jerry Brown signed the 2017-2018 state budget Tuesday with $3 million earmarked for the Armenian American Museum. The new funding will be dispersed over the next 3 years at $1 million per year. The approval brings the State’s total funding commitment for the Museum to $4 million.

“We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our State of California leaders to build a historic cultural and educational center that will honor the rich history and celebrate the diverse cultures who call our great state home,” stated Museum Governing Board Co-Chair Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

“We would like to express our special thanks to Senator Anthony J. Portantino, Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León, and Budget Subcommittee Chair Richard Roth for leading the efforts to prioritize the funding in the 2017-2018 state budget,” stated Museum Governing Board Co-Chair Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

The $3 million funding request was initiated in the State Senate by Senator Anthony J. Portantino with the support of Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León and Budget Subcommittee Chair Richard Roth. Upon the approval by the Senate Budget Subcommittee and Budget Conference Committee, the new funding for the Armenian American Museum was included in the 2017-2018 state budget proposal approved by the State Legislature on June 15.

“There is a long history of California supporting laudable museum projects around the state,” stated Senator Anthony J. Portantino. “I wanted to make sure that the Armenian American Museum garners equal and fair support.”

“It was an honor to work with my colleagues in the California legislature to secure $3 million dollars in funding for the Armenian American Museum,” stated Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León. “I am proud to stand in solidarity with the Armenian community.”

Last year, Governor Brown approved the 2016-2017 state budget with $1 million for the Armenian American Museum, an initiative led by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian and supported by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León. Governor Brown’s January budget proposal released earlier this year suspended the previously approved $1 million for the Museum. State Legislators called for the restoration of the funds and advocated for additional funding in the 2017-2018 state budget.

“The Armenian American Museum in Glendale has the potential to serve as a beacon of hope for countless visitors through its work to embrace our diversity, educate, and empower all who step through its doors,” wrote Assemblymember Laura Friedman in a letter in March urging the Governor to reinstate the $1 million for the Museum. Friedman’s support for building the Museum in Glendale began as a Glendale City Councilmember and she has continued to advocate for the project in the State Assembly as one of her top priorities.

Ultimately, Governor Brown’s May Revise budget proposal reinstated the initial $1 million and the 2017-2018 budget signed by Governor Brown today commits an additional $3 million for the Armenian American Museum.

“The State of California’s investment in the Armenian American Museum lays the foundation for a momentous project that will serve generations to come,” stated Museum Governing Board Co-Chair Bishop Mikael Mouradian.

Museum officials continue to work closely with the City of Glendale on developing the project’s concept design, traffic, parking, economic, and environmental studies in preparation for the upcoming ground lease agreement consideration by the Glendale City Council.

“We are looking forward to working with our City of Glendale partners to build an iconic center in the heart of Glendale’s Arts and Entertainment District,” stated Museum Governing Board Co-Chair Reverend Berdj Djambazian.

The Museum’s concept design by Alajajian Marcoosi Architects was unveiled in December 2017. The video of the concept design can be viewed at www.ArmenianAmericanMuseum.org.

The Armenian American Museum is a developing project in Glendale, CA, with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. When completed, it will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.