WORK BEGINS ON LONG-AWAITED ARMENIAN CHURCH

The Desert Sun
Sept 21 2009
CA

Construction has begun on an Armenian church that was first proposed
about 10 years ago in Rancho Mirage.

Fourteen-foot walls now stand at the Armenian Apostolic Church of
the Desert site on Vista Dunes Road.

"It actually looks like a building," Carolon Nigosian, chairwoman of
the parish council.

Work has been progressing for about two months, and the structure
should be finished by next summer.

Rancho Mirage leaders approved a conditional use permit for the
project in 1999 and modifications in 2001, but the building permit
expired in April 2005 due to inactivity.

Plans were later resubmitted and the project was approved in April
2009 on the condition that church officials build a 6-foot tall wall
blocking access from Vista Dunes and install a driveway on Monterey
Avenue.

City officials did not think Vista Dunes was capable of handling the
heavy traffic that the 3,540-square-foot church could produce.

The city, however, opted to install the driveway while it works
on a Monterey road-widening project, city Planning Director Randy
Bynder said.

He added the city is installing a left-turn pocket lane for northbound
traffic to help accommodate the congregation.

About 50 people worship in the current church’s parish hall, but
there will be enough pews in the new structure to fit about 170 people.

The nearest churches are in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Church officials are still raising funds for the project, and special
events have been organized for the next two months:

Coachella Valley residents are invited to attend a "Hard Hat"
fundraising party on Sept. 26, which will include tours of the
facility.

Reservations are required for the tour, which will be followed by a
$45 dinner at 6 p.m.

A new priest will be ordained at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at St. George
Greek Orthodox Church in Palm Desert. A dinner reception will take
place at the Armenian church at 6:30 p.m. for $75.

The church will host an Armenian cultural event at 11 a.m. Nov. 14
and 15. Admission is $2 per person.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress