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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
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