GLENDALE : Post-Quake Parking Rules Are Tightened

Parking officials will start ticketing cars this week on streets surrounding the Civic Center where motorists were allowed to ignore parking rules after the Northridge earthquake damaged downtown parking structures.

People parking on several downtown-area streets from Jan. 17 through Wednesday were allowed to remain in spaces beyond the allotted time and were not penalized for extended parking in 30-minute zones or on curbs designated for street sweeping.

Drivers were required to obey meters on downtown byways during the four-month reconstruction period.

Motorists were allowed to ignore parking rules because the Jan. 17 temblor damaged the Civic Center parking structure and the Glendale Fashion Center garage--removing 1,268 parking spaces from the downtown area.

The 563-space Civic Center garage, located at the corner of Wilson Avenue and Isabel Street, reopened to the public in early May, said Jennifer Jenkins, a city traffic engineer assistant.

Officials did not reinstate parking requirements on downtown streets when the garage opened because they wanted to give Civic Center employees and other motorists time to “get up the courage” to park in the garage, Jenkins said.

The Fashion Center structure at the corner of Glendale and Wilson avenues--with 868 spaces that served the Robinsons-May store that is now closed--is scheduled to be demolished in July. The city has posted signs on the following streets informing Civic Center visitors they must follow parking rules: Doran Street to the north; Adams Street to the east; Harvard Street to the south, and Kenwood Street to the west.

Temporary parking for City Hall along Isabel Street in the northbound lanes will remain to ease the loss of parking in the Fashion Center garage--used for overflow parking for downtown visitors, Jenkins said.