Glendale : Stores to Be Razed

After a three-month delay, the Redevelopment Agency voted to raze a row of vacant, agency-owned stores at 209 to 215 S. Brand Blvd.

The agency, which consists of the five City Council members, delayed the project in June to seek a developer who would renovate the one- and two-story brick buildings to meet seismic and health and safety codes and lease them to retailers. But developers said the project was not financially feasible.

Instead, four agency members last week agreed to tear down the buildings and build a parking lot for use until a new development project is proposed for the site, which is located within the downtown redevelopment zone. Councilman Larry Zarian continued his opposition, saying demolition of stores is detrimental to efforts to revitalize the downtown area.

The buildings will be cleared by late November and a parking lot built next spring, officials said.