Glendale’s Skyline and Sunroom Desk’s Anniversary


Northeast corner of Central Ave. at California

Northeast corner of Central Ave. at California Ave.

Southeast corner of Orange St. at Wilson Ave.

Southeast corner of Orange St. at Wilson Ave.

Northeast corner of Central Ave. at Dryden

Northeast corner of Central Ave. at Doran St.

Shell before final demolition at Central Ave. and Doran St.

Shell before final demolition at Central Ave. and Doran St.

I placed Sunroom Desk online just as the 2008 financial crisis hit, and real estate and construction went dormant in Glendale and across the nation. My first post was a reflection on the large number of Halloween costume shops temporarily occupying vacant retail spaces in downtown Glendale. Five years later…this Sunday’s Glendale News-Press just noted that far fewer costume outlets found space to set up shops.

Today is this blog’s five-year anniversary, and Glendale’s downtown landscape is sprouting upward with improved economic sentiment.

Within an area bordered by the 134 freeway to the north and the San Fernando Road/Central Ave. intersection to the south (about 30 blocks), San Fernando Road to the west and Glendale Ave. to the east (about 10 blocks), I count at least 17 multi-story apartment and/or condo complexes, mixed-use projects, affordable housing, hotels or lofts just completed, under construction, or moving through the city’s planning stages.

The Americana at Brand, which opened in April 2008, isn’t included in this tally.

Whether the ROI will validate all these new projects remains to be seen. How Glendale will cope with the anticipated influx of residents and businesses to all these developments also remains to be seen. Traffic, pedestrian and public safety and parking issues can all be expected.

Partial List of Projects:
Glendale Triangle Project

Holland Partners’ three six-story projects

Courtyard by Marriott

Eleve Lofts and Skydeck

Icis