The “Bridge to the Future” fundraising and social media campaign have launched for the new Armenian Community Center in San Diego, which has received its Conditional Use (CUP) and San Diego City Permits and is anticipated to break ground this fall.

As part of the 18-acre Heritage Pointe campus and coastal wildlife preserve that houses St. Sarkis Armenian Church (consecrated 2022), the parish’s spiritual home in Carmel Valley near Del Mar, the Armenian Community Center will further this mission by serving as a hub for spiritual, cultural and educational activities for the San Diego Armenian community and beyond. A new website, is now live with complete information on the project, a news release states.

Fundraising Committee Chair Jim Sahagian expressed his excitement in the news release: “We are thrilled to launch this next campaign phase for the Armenian Community Center, which will strengthen and unite the San Diego Armenian community – especially the youth who are our future.”

The construction of this next phase, per Sahagian, focuses on youth development and cultural gatherings. It will include classroom space for Armenian Language and Sunday School programs, as well as a number of multi-use spaces for community use. The estimated cost to complete this phase is $4.6 million, more than half of which has already been committed through pledges and financing. When fully completed the cost of the entire Community Center will be $9 million, the news release stated.

According to Sahagian, after completion of the last phase of construction, the Community Center will accommodate up to 350 guests for indoor events and will include a large stage, dance floor, commercial-grade kitchen, and state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities. The Center will also include a rooftop deck and two outdoor patios which will further expand and enhance the Center’s ability to host meaningful gatherings in a truly beautiful setting, the news release stated.

Future buildings of Heritage Pointe include the Education Center and Library, Youth Center and Gymnasium, an outdoor Memorial Plaza, and an assisted living facility which breaks ground in January 2027.

The Bridge to the Future “Gala Esperanza: Gala of Hope” will be held on Oct. 24 at the Cape Rey Hilton in Carlsbad, to support the building campaign.For more information or to support this mission, visithttps://www.bridgetothefuturesd.org/donate-page or email bridge2futuresd@gmail.com.