2 CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Release of a Request for Proposals to Develop City Owned Property Located at 210 N. Maryland Avenue (City Parking Lot No. 4)
1. Motion Directing Staff to Release a Request for Proposals for the Development of City Parking Lot No. 4.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for November 4, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of a strategy to balance future budgets and meet the City’s affordable housing goals, the City Council directed staff to explore ground leasing and developing certain City-owned parking lots. On March 5, 2025, the City Council declared ten city-owned parking lots as “exempt surplus property” and received the State Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) concurrence of the findings on May 22, 2025. Staff is requesting authorization to issue a Request for Proposals for Parking Lot No. 4 (located at 210 North Maryland Avenue) to ground lease the site for a development that provides a financial return to the City and complies with objectives and standards of the Downtown Specific Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council authorize staff to move forward with the release of a Request for Proposals to develop City Parking Lot No. 4.
ANALYSIS
During the 2023 budget study sessions, as part of a strategy to balance future budgets and meet the City’s affordable housing goals, the City Council directed staff to explore potentially ground leasing and developing City-owned parking lots. As an initial step, on March 5, 2025, the City Council made findings declaring ten parking lots as “exempt 22 6
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0 surplus property” under the Surplus Land Act (“SLA”) because the properties were under one-half acre and met other criteria to qualify for the exemption. On May 22, 2025, the City received concurrence from the HCD that the properties qualify as “exempt surplus land”.
This determination allows the City to bypass certain SLA requirements involving bid solicitation procedures, negotiating and documentation procedures, and prioritization of negotiations in situations with multiple interested parties which facilitates the property disposition and entitlement process.
City Parking Lot No. 4
City Parking Lot No. 4 was determined to be exempt surplus land. The property is located at 210 North Maryland Avenue mid-block between California and Wilson Avenues behind the Alex Theater and adjacent to the Mid-Brand district (Exhibit 1). The site is comprised of two City-owned lots totaling 14,250 square feet and currently operates as a surface parking lot with 43 spaces.
The property is located within the Downtown Specific Plan (“DSP”) Transitional District, which is characterized by a transition from the high-intensity, mixed activity of Downtown to the higher-density residential neighborhood to the east. The Transitional District currently features lower-scale office and commercial buildings. The permitted height limit is four stories (65 feet) and a maximum floor-area ratio (FAR) of 2.50. Projects within the Transitional District may use the DSP incentives to increase the permitted height to six stories (95 feet) and FAR of 3.00.
Request for Proposals
Staff is requesting authorization to issue a RFP seeking qualified developers for the site.
The RFP lists the minimum parameters and objectives for the site’s development. The RFP seeks a ground lease for the site’s conveyance. Staff anticipates a 55-year initial term with option(s) to extend. The project would be subject to prevailing wage to the extent applicable. Development concepts are expected to conform to the applicable DSP land use regulations including height, floor area ratio, open space, and parking standards. Proposals are requested to demonstrate the long-term financial return to the City through ground rent, Transient Occupancy Taxes, sales tax, or any other applicable revenue streams generated to the City. No City financial subsidies will be provided. In addition, the RFP requests, where possible, the provision of amenities or improvements that serve as a public benefit. There isn’t a requirement to replace the 43 public parking spaces.
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0 If directed to proceed with the RFP, the process and tentative dates would include the following:
Issue RFP: November 21, 2025
Submission deadline for proposals: January 2026
Staff review of proposals: February 2026
Developer recommendation and City Council consideration of an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement: March 2026
Once these steps are complete, staff will then work with the developer on project pre- entitlement and negotiation of ground-lease terms. The final step is City Council consideration of project entitlements and approval of the ground lease.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report at this time. If a successful developer is identified with the RFP process, the City can anticipate additional revenues associated with the ground lease. The amount of the revenues is uncertain at this moment. The result of the RFP will provide the City better estimate on additional revenues to include in the future financial forecast.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
CEQA does not apply to projects where the lead agency determines "with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment." CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs.) § 15061(b)(3). Here, the action involves Council authorization to release an RFP seeking development proposals for Parking Lot #4. There is no possibility that the action of issuing the RFP may have a significant effect on the environment.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. Direct staff to release the Request for Proposals as proposed or release contingent upon modification made by the City Council. Staff would proceed to distribute the RFP to a list of qualified and/or interested development teams, review and evaluate proposals, and return to the City Council with a recommendation on a preferred project and authorization to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the selected development team.
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0 2. Any other alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Bradley Calvert, Director of Community Development
Prepared by:
Mark Berry, Deputy Director of Community Dev/Economic Dev Approved by:
Roubik Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
1) Site Map