GLENDALE : 3 Galleria Parking Areas to Be Rebuilt

Glendale Galleria officials said Tuesday that three parking structures, all of which were damaged in the Northridge earthquake 16 months ago but have remained standing, will be razed and completely rebuilt over the next two years.

A three-story, 1,500-space garage that represented a third of the parking spaces for the Galleria I mall was rebuilt last year after the quake. Mall officials say the three structures that make up the other two-thirds are safe to park in, but still need repairs, and that it would be more cost-effective to replace them than fix them.

Pat Donahue, vice president of mall developer Donahue Schriber, said demolition is expected to start within 30 days on the southernmost parking structure, adjacent to the Robinsons-May store, and the structure will be rebuilt by November.

In January, the same process will begin on the two middle parking structures, to each of which a fourth level will be added. Then, the developer plans to add a fourth deck to the two outer parking structures, Donahue said.

Also on Tuesday, Galleria officials said they are asking the Glendale Redevelopment Agency to begin discussions that will pave the way for the eventual development of the third phase of the Galleria.

Dan Donahue, president of Donahue Schriber, said the extension of the mall would be built somewhere in the area bounded by Brand Boulevard, Colorado Street, Central Avenue and the existing mall.

No timeline or concept has been developed for the project yet, but it could incorporate some “new concepts” in retailing, including a large “category killer” type of retail store, an integration of the retail and entertainment business akin to Universal Citywalk, as well as a traditional department store and a possible hotel and office development.