Agency OKs McDonald’s in High-Rise

After more than 18 months of discussion, the Glendale Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday approved a proposal to build the first drive-through fast-food restaurant in a downtown high-rise office and theater complex.

Agency members voted 4 to 1 to permit the Howard Platz Group of Glendale to build a nine-story office building at 500 N. Central Ave., where a popular McDonald’s restaurant is located.

The development will include an even larger McDonald’s on the ground floor with a drive-through window that will allow motorists to wind through a parking structure below the office tower and an adjoining, three-story multi-screen theater.

McDonald’s officials said the project will be the first in an urban development to incorporate the drive-up service typically offered in suburban restaurants.

Agency Chairman Larry Zarian voiced the sole opposition to the project, saying he fears that traffic drawn to the drive-through service will cause excessive congestion on surrounding streets.

Other agency members, however, said a series of measures imposed on the proposal, including the use of traffic control attendants, can be used to ease problems if they arise.

Construction on the project is expected to begin in January.