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“Intellectual Renaissance” Foundation bought William Saroyan’s Fresno house
The central Fresno house that famed Armenian-American writer William Saroyan lived in for the last 17 years will be reconstructed as a house museum, according to the “Intellectual Renaissance” Foundation message.

“One of the giants of the 20th century American literature William Saroyan lived and worked in a house at 2729 W. Griffith Way, just west to Cooper Middle School. Today the house of the great writer is abandoned with wooden windows, walls and floor requiring major renovations. 

Profoundly aware of the universal importance of Saroyan’s heritage, considering the poor conditions of the house and intending to save it from destruction, in 2015 the house was bought by the “Intellectual Renaissance” Foundation founded by Arthur Janibekyan, that promoted the Armenian Wikipedia during the last two years and contributed to the increase in Armenian intellectual potential. The house will be reconstructed as a house museum that will live a full creative life becoming a cultural center for not only Armenians, but also for the whole world. The house museum will hold literary evenings, festivals and other cultural events under its roof.

The “Intellectual Renaissance” Foundation will soon present the reconstruction plan,” reads the message.

The auction for Saroyan’s home took place on May 5, 2015. The house has had three different owners since Saroyan’s death in 1981 and has fallen into foreclosure twice, according to Fresno County public property records. Neighbor Ernie Baca said the house had been used as a rental for years and attracted squatters. The small, 1,228-square-foot house was built in 1964. It has three bedrooms and one bathroom. When Saroyan owned the house, fruit trees and weeds grew around the property, Baca said. Saroyan would pay Baca $30 to water the trees and the weeds when he was away. The Saroyan house is on the local register of historic resources. The plaque, which lists 10 pieces of Saroyan’s work written while living in the house, was installed in 1989.