Place
Glendale Garden Homes
Active
This 37 unit Mid-Century apartment complex is threatened by redevelopment
Place Details
Address
Neighborhood
Year
Style
Decade
Property Type
Community
Overview
The Glendale Garden Homes were built in 1957 at a time of rapid growth in Glendale. Local developers Causey & Causey worked with the nearby Pasadena & San Marino based firm Norwood and DeLonge to design large, family sized units similar to those built on “Millionaire’s Row” in Pasadena, which are still desirable to this day. Units in Glendale Garden Homes range from 1,600 to 2,000 square feet, are arranged around courtyards planted with mature trees, and contain wood burning fireplaces. They are proof that multifamily units can be designed for families or long-term tenants to offer many the same amenities often found in single-family homes.
About this Place
About this Place
After facing two decades of preservation threats, this lushly landscaped Mid-Century Modern courtyard apartment complex has finally been deemed eligible for listing on the Glendale Register, though it still faces the prospect of demolition. The latest development proposal would demolish the 37-unit complex and replace it with a 6-story, 149-unit complex, at a scale and density that is much more intense than the adjacent 2 to 3-story multifamily neighborhood. Upon reviewing the application, Glendale’s Community Development Department deemed Glendale Garden Homes as eligible for designation on the Glendale Historic Register, therefore requiring an EIR for any project that would demolish the building. This EIR would also consider alternatives such as a preservation or partial preservation alternative, and give the adjacent community and current tenants the ability to provide comments.
Two historic reports that the owner of the property commissioned contested the City staff’s assertion of historic eligibility, and the owner appealed the historic status to City Council. They claimed that Glendale Garden Homes were not a good example of a garden apartment and not a good example of Mid-Century Modern architecture, and therefore the application should be exemption from CEQA. The arguments relied heavily on findings from a historic context statement the Los Angeles Conservancy commissioned in 2012, “Garden Apartments of Los Angeles,” Historic Context Statement, which was researched and written by Architectural Resources Group. That report focused on a different era of Garden Apartment development that included much larger sites such as Park La Brea, Chase Knolls or Village Green, but didn’t analyze smaller sites like those found in Glendale or Pasadena.
Our Position
The Conservancy reviewed all of the reports but ultimately agreed with the city staff – this is a unique and good example of a Garden apartment adapted for Glendale’s context and needs at the time. Nearby residents also saw the uniqueness of this building- over 3,000 people signed an Change.org petition with over 60% of signatures coming from the neighborhood. Over 50 people attended and make public comment with another dozen commenting virtually. There were some supporters of the project as well but the vast majority were in opposition, requesting an EIR be required.
The City Council weighed both sides fairly, but ultimately stood by city staff’s decision, requiring an EIR from the developer. The project may need only a “Focused EIR,” pertaining to its impacts on cultural resources, a process that would take about 8 months. Ultimately agreed project may move forward if the Council does make a Statement of Overriding Considerations that the project’s benefits would outweigh the impact of demolition, but the Conservancy is pleased that an EIR will be required and due process given to Glendale Garden Homes and the community that rallied behind it.
