Local nonprofit to look into possible Armenian museum in Glendale

A local nonprofit will begin exploring the feasibility of building an Armenian museum and cultural center on a parking lot next to the Glendale Civic Auditorium after getting the go-ahead from the Glendale City Council on Tuesday.

With a 5-0 a vote, the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee Western USA entered into an exclusive negotiation agreement, meaning the city won’t lease the property to another entity for at least the next year.

The committee is comprised of representatives from 20 different organizations looking to construct a museum facility as well as a memorial monument to the Armenian Genocide.

“It’s not often that one funds such a wide cross section of a constituency or community wholeheartedly supporting any single project,” committee co-chair Talin Yacoubian told council members.

During his public comments, Chair Garo Ghazarian called the museum a symbol of gratitude to the nation and the city of Glendale, and it will highlight the contributions of Armenian Americans to society.

The final project design could also include gallery exhibits and a theater, as well as space for research and archiving, according to a city staff report.

The proposed 1.7-acre project site is bounded by Verdugo Road and Mountain Street and has roughly 200 parking spaces used by civic center visitors and students of Glendale Community College, which is across the street.

As museum designs are drawn up, Philip Lanzafame, the city’s economic development director, said the committee would have to replace existing on-site parking as a provision.

Additional stipulations will require the committee to develop a community outreach plan, conceptual site plan and financial feasibility analysis. It will also have to have a California Environmental Quality Act review of the project.

“For now, this is just setting the stage for all of those negotiations and all of the investigation for what I hope will be a project that will be a success and will be something that all of us can take pride in,” said Councilwoman Laura Friedman.

The committee must also keep the city updated on fundraising levels and provide progress reports every 60 days, according to the staff report.

After a year, the agreement could also be extended for an additional six months by the city manager, the report states.

Mayor Zareh Sinanyan said he’s in favor of the project because it would give the local Armenian community an opportunity to present its cultural heritage to the public, and he spoke positively of the potential relationship between the proposed site and its proximity to the college.

“There’s that natural nexus between the museum — [which] clearly seems to be intended to have a major educational purpose — and perhaps the biggest, most important educational institution in our great city,” he said.