Local News in Brief : Burbank Studies Plan to Open Mall to Cars
Opening of Burbank’s Golden Mall to vehicle traffic will be considered by the Burbank City Council next month during a public hearing.
Several city officials believe that allowing automobiles in the pedestrian mall will help invigorate downtown Burbank.
On Tuesday, City Council members said they wanted to analyze the impact of opening three blocks of the mall, from Olive Avenue to Magnolia Boulevard, to cars. The move would make the stores on the mall more accessible, some merchants said. Three blocks of the mall, from Tujunga Avenue to Olive Avenue, were opened last year.
A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled at 7 p.m. June 28.
Mall merchants have complained for the last several years about what they said is a lack of concern for the mall by city officials. The merchants said the mall has been neglected.
The mall, which fronts on San Fernando Boulevard and is in the heart of Burbank’s downtown redevelopment area, has been closed to cars since 1967.
While most mall merchants seem to favor opening the mall, others at Tuesday’s council meeting expressed concern about whether the city could provide adequate parking.
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