1303-1315 North Central Ave
Appeal
City Council
February 4, 2025
2 Appeal
• Applicant/Appellant – David Brody
• Owner – Central BWB, LLC (Greg Brody)
• Project – Demolish site, build 149 housing units
• Appeal of – Director’s decision to require an EIR for demolition of Glendale Garden Homes, a historic
resource
Site Location
3 CENTRAL AVE
W. MOUNTAIN ST
VIOLA AVE
W. RANDOLPH ST
N
Existing Development
4 VIOLA AVE
CENTRAL AVE
5 Proposal History
• 2003-2007 – Demolish site, build 86-unit housing project.
Historic concerns.
• 2020-2023 – Preliminary reviews for 115-, 131-, 149-unit projects. Applicant advised from start re: historic concerns. • Sep 2023 – Density Bonus application submitted. Applicant advised environmental review application required.
6 Proposal History
• Sep 18, 2024 – Enviro review application submitted
• October 28, 2024 – Director’s Decision EIF is required, Staff Historic Resource Assessment & Peer Review
• November 7, 2024 – Appeal filed by applicant
Appeal Statements
7 • Timeliness of Director’s Decision
• Staff Historic Assessment
Timeliness
8 • Government Code Sections
1) 65913.10 – Historic determination timeliness
2) 65589.5 – Approval timeline for housing apps
3) 65920 – Approval timeline for permits
Historic Preservation
9 • Public Resources Code Sections
1) 21159.25 – CEQA exemption
2) 21084.1 – CEQA standards for evaluating
historic resources
Summary
10 CEQA must be addressed
Is the Glendale Garden Homes a historic resource?
Is an EIR required for its demolition?
Recommendation
11 Staff recommends that the City Council uphold the
Directors determination that an EIR is required.
Overview of Staff Historic Assessment and Peer
Review
12 Glendale Garden Homes, 1957
13 14
Glendale Assessment ESA/CH Assessments
• Relies on Glendale-specific information • Based on report written for City of LA • Based in part on South Glendale Context and
Survey, which is appropriate
• Ignore Survey and make little mention of
context or period of significance for apts.
CRITERIA REASON
GR/1 (Event)
As a unique or rare representation of a particular type of multi-family residential development. Eligible examples may represent the first or best example of a specific type of multi-family residential development; reflect important development patterns from the period in South Glendale; or represent an association with an ethnic group important in Glendale’s history.
GR3/3(Architecture) As an excellent or rare example of an architectural style or property type from the period. Additional information about architectural styles from each period and their associated character-defining features are outlined in the Architecture & Design context.
Registration Requirements from South Glendale Historic Context • Based in part on staff survey of garden
apartment complexes in E and W Glendale
• No contextual analysis of Glendale
development patterns or buildings
• Explains differences in property size and
build date based on field review and analysis
of development patterns
• Rely almost entirely on report’s definitions
for lot size (3 acres) and build date (1955 cut
off, despite consistent misquoting of report)
Glendale Register Designation Criteria 1 and 3
1. Identified with important events in national, state, or city history, or exemplifies significant contributions to the broad cultural, political, economic, social, tribal, or historic heritage of the nation, state, or city, and retains historic integrity.
2. Embodies the distinctive and exemplary characteristics of an architectural style, architectural type, period, or method of construction, and retains integrity.