Armenian Developers in Burbank Targeted With Racist Hate Speech: "You Aren’t Welcome Here. This Is Why the F---ing Turks Killed Your Families."

The approval of a 40-unit condominium project in Burbank’s Rancho neighborhood has sparked heated tensions, revealing blatant racism and hate speech towards Armenians. Developers Garen Gozumian and Hrach Boyajian of Butterfly Gardens LLC, the team behind the project, have endured years of resistance and hostility. However, the situation reached a new low last Sunday when they received a chilling email invoking the Armenian Genocide, a historical atrocity that claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians during the early 20th century.

The email read: “You aren’t welcome here. This is why the fu@%ing Turks killed your families.” Gozumian described the email as a deeply personal attack meant to inflict maximum emotional damage. “Words have never impacted me so deeply,” he said. “No one should have to feel this way.”

The hateful email is just the latest in a series of hostile incidents that Gozumian and his team at Butterfly Gardens LLC have endured over the last three years. Since submitting their initial proposal, they have faced public outbursts, verbal abuse, and even physical intimidation.

“We’ve had people scream profanities at us while walking past our business, stop their cars to berate us, and hurl insults at us during public meetings,” Gozumian explained. “The common theme is always the same: ‘You don’t belong here.’”

Even at City Hall, where discussions about the project were supposed to remain civil, Gozumian and his team were not spared. “At a recent council meeting, some residents cursed at us in the chambers. On our way out, others followed, yelling, ‘You piece of sh—, you don’t belong here,’” he shared.

For Gozumian, the racist email confirmed what he had long suspected—that some of the opposition was fueled by prejudice against his heritage.

When Gozumian first proposed developing the property, he aimed to honor the Rancho neighborhood’s equestrian identity. His team designed a low-density garden-style office complex resembling a barn, and even incorporating equestrian-friendly features like water stations and hitching posts.

“We approached the community with open arms,” Gozumian said. “I even went horseback riding with local leaders to better understand their lifestyle.”

Despite these efforts, opposition groups rejected every proposal. Lawsuits and other measures delayed progress and added costs, forcing the developers to eventually propose the current 40-unit condominium project, which adheres to California’s SB35 housing law. The Burbank City Council unanimously approved the project, but tensions have only escalated since.

Friends of the Equestrian Bridge, a group involved in litigation against the project, issued a statement condemning the hate speech. “This type of hate speech is completely unacceptable and out of keeping with the spirit of our community,” they wrote.

However, some residents have questioned the validity of the email and dismissed it as an isolated incident. On social media, comments downplaying the harm caused by the email have added to Gozumian’s frustration.

“To those who say this is an isolated incident, I say they are part of the problem,” he said. “Hate like this doesn’t just appear and then disappear. It builds over time, fueled by misinformation and distrust.”

“We have been informed that the matter has been referred to Burbank PD for investigation and hope they will bring this unfortunate incident to a rapid conclusion,” Presidents Nori Walla, Emily Gabel-Luddy, and Darcy Conkle, of Friends of the Equestrian Bridge, concluded in their statement.

Gozumian believes local leaders need to take a stronger stance against hate speech and misinformation. “This kind of behavior should never be tolerated,” he said. “We need our leaders to step up and address the misinformation that has been weaponized to incite this kind of hatred.”

While the Burbank City Council has not directly addressed the racist email, this summer it issued a general statement promoting peace and inclusivity. The statement reaffirmed the city’s commitment to building a community where all residents feel safe and respected.

Gozumian worries about the safety of his team, future contractors, and even the eventual residents of the condominium project. “The intimidation and threats against me could easily transfer to others,” he said. “That’s what worries me most.”

For now, Gozumian remains determined to move forward, despite the challenges. “This isn’t just about a development project,” he said. “It’s about standing up to hate and ensuring that everyone has the right to feel safe and respected in their community.”

While the project adheres to legal requirements and aims to provide much-needed housing in the face of California’s housing crisis, opposition groups have employed inflammatory rhetoric and spread misinformation to stoke community fears.

Gozumian sees the harassment he has faced as part of a larger issue that goes beyond his project. He is calling for a community-wide discussion about racism, intolerance, and how misinformation fuels division. “If we don’t address this, these harmful attitudes and behaviors will continue to spread,” he warned. 

The hateful rhetoric directed at the developers of the Burbank condominium project is a stark reminder of the destructive power of racism and misinformation. For Gozumian and his team, the experience has been deeply personal and painful, forcing them to confront not only opposition to their project but also their place within the community. As tensions linger, the need for meaningful dialogue and decisive leadership becomes increasingly urgent.

As the project proceeds, it’s clear that the conversation about racism and hate speech in Burbank is far from over. 

This is not just a story about housing. It’s a story about who belongs in our communities and how we can create spaces where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

The Armenian Report will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates once we hear back from the Burbank City Council Members we have individually contacted for comment.

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