DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
Advisory Review and Comments
Meeting Date June 26, 2025 DRB Case No. PDR-002693-2023 Address 820 N Central Ave., 208 & 212 Arden Ave
Applicant Khan Consulting Inc.
Project Summary:
To demolish an existing 5,688 square-foot commercial building (restaurant) and two surface parking lots to construct a new 105-unit, approximately 131,850 square-foot, 8-story multi- family residential building with 186 parking spaces, including 66 tandem spaces within the ground floor and two levels of subterranean parking garage. The project includes a 3,388 square-foot publicly accessible open space area. The 36,173 square-foot project site is located at the southeast corner of Central and Arden Avenue intersection, in the Downtown Specific Plan, Gateway District (DSP/Gateway) zone. The project includes:
• One studio unit, 23 one-bedroom units, 8 one-bedroom units with den, and 73 two- bedroom units
• 186 parking spaces (120 standard spaces and 66 tandem spaces) at the ground floor and within two levels of subterranean parking garage
• 3,388 square-foot publicly accessible open space at the ground floor (southwest corner of the site, fronting Central Avenue)
• A minimum 40 square-foot private balcony for each unit for a total of 6,932 square feet • Indoor gym and recreation room at the ground floor
• Outdoor pool deck at the second floor
Design Review:
Board Member Present Absent
Lockareff X
Kaskanian X
Simonian X
Halajian X
Welch X
CC_11042025_Exhibit 7_Design Review Board
(Advisory) Record of Decision_dated June 26 2025
820 N Central Ave., 208 & 212 Arden Ave.
PDR-002693-2023
Site Planning
• Located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Central and Arden Avenue, the subject site fronts two streets, Central Avenue and Arden Avenue, which both are designated as "Mixed-Use Commercial" street in the DSP. The project complies with the setback requirements of the DSP and provides the minimum required 18-foot setback from curb face along Central Avenue and Arden Avenue (5-ft. parkway, 10-ft. sidewalk, and 3-ft. building adjacent zone). The project provides zero interior setback on the south and east side.
The proposed building is rectangular in design and occupies almost the entire project site. The primary pedestrian access will be provided from Central Avenue and vehicular access will be from Arden Avenue. The ground level of the project contains a recreation room, gym, leasing office, entry lobby, pool room, utility rooms, a secondary exit, and 74 parking spaces. Residential dwelling units are located on the upper floors. • The proposed floor area ratio (FAR) is 3.95 and the building height is 95 feet. An FAR of
7.25 and building height of 275 feet are the maximums for projects without utilizing the DSP Community Benefits. While the project provides 105 residential units, the maximum allowed density for the project is 207 residential units (250 units per acre). For developments with an FAR greater than 3.0, the DSP requires 20% of the gross site area to be open space, with 10% of the gross site area to be dedicated as publicly accessible open space (50% of required open space). An additional 140 square feet of residential open space is required per residential unit (can be provided as publicly accessible open space, common open space, or private open space).
The project complies with the open space requirements of the DSP and provides a total of 3,388 square feet of publicly accessible open space, where it is required to provide a minimum of 3,336 square feet of publicly accessible open space. The proposed publicly accessible open space is appropriately integrated with the design and overall context and located on the southwest side of the building and is oriented towards Central Avenue.
This area is 100 percent open to the sky and includes landscaping with an acrylic sphere fountain creating a focal point, planters, and paved areas with seating benches.
Additionally, the project features a total of 15,376 square feet of residential open space in the form of private residential balconies and a pool deck on the second floor. These areas are accessible to the residents of the building and will not be publicly accessible.
Landscaping, outdoor lounges and seating, and pool cabanas are proposed on the second-floor pool deck.
• Although the project is required to provide a minimum of 197 parking spaces (in accordance with the Glendale Municipal Code (GMC), Chapter 30.32.050, Table 30-32- A), it qualifies for a parking reduction pursuant to the State’s AB2097 (Government Code Section 65863.2). The project provides a total of 186 parking spaces (120 standard 820 N Central Ave., 208 & 212 Arden Ave.
PDR-002693-2023
spaces and 66 tandem spaces) within the ground level and two levels of subterranean parking garage. To comply with GMC, Chapter 30.32.173, the project provides six (6) bicycle parking spaces. Vehicular access to the parking garage is appropriate to the overall design and located off Arden Avenue. The ground floor includes habitable uses so the ground level parking, except for the parking entry is not visible from street frontages.
• The conceptual landscape plans primarily show at-grade landscaping. In general, the design minimizes the use of planters and includes benches and lightweight concrete stools which do not exceed 25% of all project landscaping within the publicly accessible open space. Conceptual landscape plans show a variety of drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. Details and specifications regarding the landscaping and planters will be reviewed as part of City Council Stage II Final Design Review. • Utility rooms for the project are proposed at the ground level within the main body of the building and are screened from public view. The rooftop mechanical equipment is screened by parapet walls.
Mass and Scale
• The project complies with the DSP’s design standards. The proposed 95-foot-tall residential development has appropriately incorporated the required height and façade modulations into the design which add visual interest to both the skyline, as well as the street-level. The project is also consistent with the surrounding development, which includes tall residential and commercial buildings.
• To comply with the DSP “modulation of height” requirements, of the four available options, the project has incorporated a corner feature on the building corner at the intersection of Central and Arden Avenue. The prominent corner feature is required to be differentiated from the primary massing of the building by design features and a minimum of 10-foot height differentiation. The project’s coroner feature provides a 10’-6” height differentiation and incorporates corner balconies at the upper floors and includes a combination of blue/gray metal panels and beige fiber cement panels. This corner design contrasts with the adjacent light-colored stucco and metal panels while also projecting outward from the main building façades along Central and Arden Avenue. The proposed corner feature achieves visual prominence through horizontal decorative metal belts at its top and bottom, complemented by an LED lighting system to help highlight the building corner.
• To comply with the DSP “façade modulation” requirement, the project has incorporated a clearly delineated base, middle, and top. The ground level will have stone veneer wall finish in cream color. The middle of the building is defined by the consistent use of blue/gray color metal and fiber cement cladding system (panels) and the two horizontal 820 N Central Ave., 208 & 212 Arden Ave.
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metal belts in russet mica color, creating a top and bottom border for the middle of the project on the north façade and partially on the east and west façade. The top of the building is defined by beige color fiber cement panels and steps back slightly from the middle of the building along north, east and west façade. The very top floor of the building will include smooth stucco finish in a lighter color with a larger setback on the south and west façade.
Design and Detailing
• The contemporary/modern design of the proposed 8-story, residential project fits within its urban context in the DSP’s Gateway District of taller, streamlined developments and is appropriately articulated and designed for its location, at the corner of the Central and Arden Avenue, near the 134 Freeway. The design is consistent with the design standards, policies, and intent of the DSP as it utilizes architectural solutions through the use of various high-quality building materials, colors, texture, offset massing, projections, publicly accessible open space, recessed entries, and canopies to articulate the building façade, particularly the street-facing facades along Central and Arden Avenue. The proposed details and colors create a design that is unique and identifiable, while recognizing the priorities of the DSP to promote pedestrian activities and create human- scaled architectural elements at ground level.
• The DSP requires a minimum of 50% of the street elevations to include canopies or marquees. A metal canopy is proposed between the first and second floor of the front façade, facing Central Avenue. This canopy is partially wrapping the side façades. At the upper floors, the project proposes blue/gray metal panels, beige fiber cement panels, and smooth dove grey color stucco finish. Railings on the residential balconies will be clear glass. The overall proposed materials are consistent with the contemporary aesthetic of the design and the DSP standards. A detailed look at the building materials/colors will be reviewed during the Stage II Final Design Review. • The building’s primary entrance (lobby) is located along Central Avenue. The entrance is recessed from the sidewalk and is highlighted by a metal canopy that features the building name. The base of the building along with the primary entrance will have a thin stone veneer cladding wall. The paving material for this entry area (porcelain wood-look pavers) is distinct and differentiates from the sidewalk. • Per GMC Section 30.30.040 and the DSP standards, all exterior lighting shall be directed onto the driveways, walkways, and parking areas within the development and away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. Further, the DSP encourages significant architectural features such as corners or unique cornices to be illuminated and enhanced by comprehensive lighting design. A conceptual lighting plan (3d rendering) and light fixture specifications have been submitted and depicts horizontal and vertical LED light 820 N Central Ave., 208 & 212 Arden Ave.
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fixtures between metal cladding (upper floors and corner feature) and light fixtures under the canopies at the first floor. A final lighting plan including the lighting system and details of the pool area and the publicly accessible open space area will be required for the Design Review Stage II, for the City Council’s review. • The DSP requires a visible and delineated roofline to visually demarcate where the building silhouette meets the sky. The overall termination at the roofline is suitable as the building facades of these areas and features roofline setbacks, a different material and color, and landscaping planters along balconies to add visual interest to the skyline. • The fenestration design distinguishes the base from the middle and top of the building and the larger expanses of glazing are divided into smaller units. The project provides a variety of window sizes reflecting the different internal uses. This creates visual complexity that helps improve the façade modulations and is complementary to the design and scale of the building. Final details and specifications regarding the fenestration will be reviewed as part of the Stage II Final Design Review.
Comments:
The Design Review Board concurred with the City Council Stage I approval of the project and provided the following comments:
1. Exterior lighting should not be excessive and very bright.
2. Incorporate commercial/service type uses to the project.
3. Add top-level balconies on the left side of the north elevation, similar to those at the corner feature. These balconies should wrap the corners on the east and south elevations to help reduce the boxy appearance of the project and create more articulation on facades, practically the east façade.
DRB Staff Member Aileen Babakhani, Senior Planner