Burbank Council OKs Opening of Entire Golden Mall to Traffic

The Burbank City Council on Tuesday night authorized opening the remainder of the pedestrian Golden Mall to automobiles in the hope of invigorating the city’s downtown area.

The council voted to open three blocks of the mall along San Fernando Boulevard from Olive Avenue to Magnolia Boulevard. Officials estimated that it will be next year before necessary work can be completed for the opening.

Three blocks of the mall from Verdugo Avenue to Olive Avenue along San Fernando were opened last year.

Although the council approved opening the mall to automobiles, members asked planning officials to report back at the end of July on the proposed width of lanes through the mall. Council members said they want to make sure the lanes are wide enough and that there is adequate parking.

The decision was applauded by mall merchants who said that the closing of the mall to traffic in 1967 hurt business.

William R. Kelly, the city’s director of community development, predicted that opening the street will encourage businesses to locate in the mall because the area will be more desirable to shoppers.

Officials said the project could cost from $2.9 million to $3.3 million.

While the mall has not been favored by Burbank shoppers in recent years, business in the mall area has begun to pick up recently with the construction of a multiscreen movie theater and a youth-oriented restaurant.