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LA City Council Approves ACF Encino Community Center Lease

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  • LA City Council Approves ACF Encino Community Center Lease

    LA City Council Approves ACF Encino Community Center Lease

    Tuesday, August 26th, 2014
    http://asbarez.com/126318/la-city-council-approves-acf-encino-community-center-lease/

    LA City Council granted a 30-year lease to this old firehouse, which
    will serve as a community center in Encino


    Old firehouse to be converted to community center in West San Fernando Valley

    LOS ANGELES-On Tuesday, August 26 the Los Angeles City Council
    unanimously directed the office of General Services to negotiate and
    execute a lease with the Armenian Cultural Foundation. The city
    council resolution grants a 30-year lease for excess city property in
    the city of Encino. The Armenian Cultural foundation will utilize the
    property as a community center.

    The property is an out-of-service fire station on Balboa Blvd., just
    north of Ventura Blvd. Since its decommission over seven years ago,
    the property has been subject to vandalism, theft, and graffiti. Its
    current state has caused a health and safety concerns to its community
    and the Elementary School directly next door to the property. The
    Armenian Cultural Foundation plans to invest upwards of $1.5 million
    dollars into the property to provide much needed social, educational,
    youth and senior services to the entire West San Fernando Valley

    The City Council Resolution authorizing the lease was first introduced
    by Councilman Paul Koretz and then Councilman Eric Garcetti in 2013.
    The motion for the lease was also supported by Paul Krekorian. All
    elected officials played a crucial role to final passage. Working
    closely with all the parties, Koretz, whose district includes Encino,
    crafted an agreement between the city, ACF and the LAUSD to benefit
    all the parties involved. Bob Blumenfield, a long-time friend of the
    Armenian community, provided support in City Council Committee. Paul
    Krekorian provided vital logistical support in the City's Offices and
    departments. Former councilman and now Mayor Garcetti, whose previous
    council district included a large population of American Armenians,
    advocated for a timely and successful vote.

    Tuesdays final vote was the culmination of a long effort by the
    Armenian Cultural Foundation to find a property to base its non-profit
    and charitable work. The ACF is a 501 (c)(3) federally recognized
    tax-exempt charitable organization. It operates dozes of community
    centers throughout the nation, offering community services and
    programing tailed to the needs of their respective communities.
    A report by the city administrative officer estimated economic
    community benefits at a value of just under $17 million dollars
    throughout the lease term. The final agreement also includes a
    provision for the ACF to provide much needed teacher parking at the
    adjacent school.

    "It's these types of public-private partnerships that make the city a
    better place to live" said Hrair Nahabedian, Chairman of the local ACF
    chapter, "we look forward to focusing our resources and turning this
    delapidated, old fire station into a thriving center the entire
    community" concluded Nahabedian.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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