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ABC30.com, CA
Jan 6 2006
Controversy Over New Armenian Town
By Nancy Osborne
1/5/2007 - The new Armenian town development is bounded by inside
Santa Clara, Highway 41, M Street and O Street. The 10 acre
redevelopment project is becoming reality as the first building rises
from an area once filled with the modest homes of Armenian
immigrants.
This will be the new home of Fresno's 5th District Court of Appeals.
It will also be the anchor of the 'Armenian Town' redevelopment
project, envisioned as a mix of office and retail, as well as public
open space and parking.
Prior to the developer, and the city, striking their deal, another
was made with the preservation community in 2002 to save some of the
old homes here.
Jeanette Jurkovich, Friends of Armenian Town, says, "Cities across
America embrace old and new development. They know it's not an
either/or."
Jurkovich says these five homes from the old Armenian Town were to
become part of this project and permanently re-located to the corner
of M and Santa Clara. But once the City and Gunner/Andros, the
developers, got down to contractual details in 2004, the area was
redesignated for parking structures and another site was chosen for
these homes. . .across Freeway 41, in an industrial area.
Tom Boyajian, outgoing City Councilmember and supporter of various
new downtown developments, isn't troubled by that change. He says,
"The Armenian Community stretches all the way around, you could put
them in a lot of different areas, you don't have to put them it that
one neighborhood."
But, preservation groups sued in civil court, and last October a
judge ordered the city to honor the 2002 agreement or work out a
compromise.
Jurkovich says, "There are alternatives and we've proposed a number
of them."
Jurkovich says this area on the 10 acre site across from the Armenian
Church would create a bridge from the past to the present. And once
restored, could become home to retail, restaurants or art galleries.
All the parties will be back in court in late January. Douglas Sloan,
Fresno City Attorney's Office, says, "At the request of Judge Putnam
and actually at the direction of the city council, we are going to
engage in settlement discussions and I think I'd be hopeful that we
can get something resolved."
The city and preservationists are hoping to find common ground, but
if not the City Attorney's office is prepared to ask for a new trial
or appeal the current decision.
Copyright KFSN-TV, www.abc30.com, and myabc30.com. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without
explicit written permission.
Jan 6 2006
Controversy Over New Armenian Town
By Nancy Osborne
1/5/2007 - The new Armenian town development is bounded by inside
Santa Clara, Highway 41, M Street and O Street. The 10 acre
redevelopment project is becoming reality as the first building rises
from an area once filled with the modest homes of Armenian
immigrants.
This will be the new home of Fresno's 5th District Court of Appeals.
It will also be the anchor of the 'Armenian Town' redevelopment
project, envisioned as a mix of office and retail, as well as public
open space and parking.
Prior to the developer, and the city, striking their deal, another
was made with the preservation community in 2002 to save some of the
old homes here.
Jeanette Jurkovich, Friends of Armenian Town, says, "Cities across
America embrace old and new development. They know it's not an
either/or."
Jurkovich says these five homes from the old Armenian Town were to
become part of this project and permanently re-located to the corner
of M and Santa Clara. But once the City and Gunner/Andros, the
developers, got down to contractual details in 2004, the area was
redesignated for parking structures and another site was chosen for
these homes. . .across Freeway 41, in an industrial area.
Tom Boyajian, outgoing City Councilmember and supporter of various
new downtown developments, isn't troubled by that change. He says,
"The Armenian Community stretches all the way around, you could put
them in a lot of different areas, you don't have to put them it that
one neighborhood."
But, preservation groups sued in civil court, and last October a
judge ordered the city to honor the 2002 agreement or work out a
compromise.
Jurkovich says, "There are alternatives and we've proposed a number
of them."
Jurkovich says this area on the 10 acre site across from the Armenian
Church would create a bridge from the past to the present. And once
restored, could become home to retail, restaurants or art galleries.
All the parties will be back in court in late January. Douglas Sloan,
Fresno City Attorney's Office, says, "At the request of Judge Putnam
and actually at the direction of the city council, we are going to
engage in settlement discussions and I think I'd be hopeful that we
can get something resolved."
The city and preservationists are hoping to find common ground, but
if not the City Attorney's office is prepared to ask for a new trial
or appeal the current decision.
Copyright KFSN-TV, www.abc30.com, and myabc30.com. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without
explicit written permission.