On July 31, 2014, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church of Costa Mesa closed escrow on the purchase of a residential property adjacent to the church for $900,000. The property is situated between two income properties the Parish already owns. Eleven years ago the Church purchased a six-unit apartment building, and a few years after that, a home. This recent purchase completes an assemblage of properties that the Church has been piecing together for future expansion. The Church has invested over $2.8 million to acquire all three properties.
Since its consecration in 1992, St. Mary Church has been a bedrock of faith and the spiritual center for the Armenian community in Orange County. With the skill and gracious efforts of Mr. Aram Bassenian — an architect of international prominence and a parish member — a phased development plan was created, first requiring the acquisition of several contiguous parcels of land to satisfy City of Costa Mesa parking requirements. With the final piece now in place, the Church can focus on its most immediate need: the construction of a new assembly hall.
The $900,000 purchase was unanimously approved at a Special Parish Assembly on July 17th, chaired by Puzant O. Zorayan, with a quorum of 92 members. Negotiations were led by Tony Markarian, Parish Council Chairman; Puzant O. Zorayan, Vice Chairman of the Parish Assembly; and Mark V. Asdourian, Esq., Chairman of the Trust Fund — with the able assistance of Antranik O. Zorayan, a founding member of the Parish. The Church purchased the property with a $400,000 down payment from donations and income property savings, with the $500,000 balance financed through a gracious loan from St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco, arranged by Mr. Asdourian and Mr. Steven Cherezian, Chairman of St. John's Parish Council.