Street Improvement Project Postponed

Glendale city officials Tuesday postponed action for three weeks on a proposed $2.3-million street improvement project after property owners and tenants complained that they cannot afford the cost of beautification.

The project calls for new paving, gutters and storm drains, as well as installation of patterned sidewalks and crosswalks, new lights, trees and benches along a four-block stretch of Broadway between Louise Street and Glendale Avenue.

Owners of 25 parcels along the route would be assessed a total of $358,000 of the project cost, with the rest to be paid by the city, George Miller, public works director, said.

City officials told council members Tuesday that the time for the project is good because recession-plagued contractors are willing to do the work for less. The lowest bid is 16% less than the cost estimated by the city, Miller said.

But several property owners and tenants said they cannot afford to pay the assessment, which would be billed over the next 10 years.

John E. Brown, an attorney who owns property at 400-422 E. Broadway, said that rents in the area have fallen over the past three years and that much of the space is vacant because of competition from new offices in the downtown redevelopment zone.

Tenants also complained that they cannot weather six months of construction in front of their stores. Owners of 50.7% of the properties along Broadway submitted protests to the city on Tuesday; the assessment requires a four-fifths vote by the council in order to approve the project.