Armenians to Open Community Center

Aimed at a growing San Fernando Valley population of Armenian Americans estimated at 100,000, the Armenian Cultural Foundation will open a new community center Sunday.

Rep.-elect Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) is scheduled to attend an opening ceremony at 5 p.m., along with state Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) and other dignitaries. The center, located in an office complex at the corner of Moorpark Street and Colfax Avenue, will be open from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

“It’s kind of a humble beginning,” said Berdj Karapetian, who represents Armenian organizations that will have offices at the center. “Eventually we hope to purchase our own building and have athletic facilities and so forth.”

The center is the foundation’s ninth in Southern California and will primarily serve Studio City, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood and Van Nuys. Groups with offices there will include the Armenian Youth Federation, Armenian Athletic Union and Scouts, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Cultural Assn., Armenian National Committee and the ARF-Dashnagtsutiun, a political party.

Most of the large numbers of Armenians who came to America during the 1970s and ‘80s settled in Hollywood because of its affordable housing, Karapetian said. But in the past decade as the Valley became more affordable, many Armenian Americans began moving to the Valley.

Karapetian said the number of Armenians living in the East Valley is estimated at about 40,000--a figure that has doubled in the last six years.

“Businesses here have responded to the trend,” he added. “You don’t have to be in Hollywood now to get an Armenian doctor or an Armenian grocery store.”