More anger registered over variance

Karen S. Kim

NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- The battle continues for merchants hoping the

Redevelopment Agency will overturn its decision to relieve a new Denny’s

restaurant of adding 33 code-required parking spaces to its lot downtown.

One Brand Boulevard merchant is accusing the Downtown Glendale

Merchants Assn. of misrepresenting its members to the agency.

Association President Leslyn Ray spoke on behalf of her members before

the agency made its decision Oct. 30 in support of the variance request.

“I am a member of the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn. and Leslyn

didn’t speak for us,” said Robert Ghazarian, owner of Hot Wings Cafe at

314 N. Brand Blvd. “She spoke solely on her own ideas. The Redevelopment

Agency voted on information that was erroneous, at best. She

misrepresented us. Period.”

The agency granted the parking variance for Denny’s after deciding

that adequate parking spaces existed near the diner in the Orange Street

Garage and Lot 6, a 135-space parking lot on Orange between Lexington

Drive and California Avenue. Employees of Denny’s will be required to

park in the Orange Street Garage, the agency ruled.

Ray said the association’s membership was not misrepresented by her

comments supporting the arrival of a 24-hour Denny’s restaurant and the

efforts made by the Redevelopment Agency to address parking issues.

“Not all the merchants in the association may be in support of the

project, but the majority of the merchants are,” Ray said.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the association Oct. 17. No

opposition to supporting the variance was voiced and board member Raul

Porto was to speak to the affected merchants, Ray said. After Porto

reported back to the board, it decided to take a stand of support for

Denny’s.

Porto, who owns Porto’s Bakery, said the association did its best to

notify its members.

“Everyone is responsible to go to the meetings when things are said,”

Porto said. “But maybe we’re going to have to figure out how to notify

people who don’t go to the meetings.

But Porto said that he only talked to some of the merchants. He didn’t

talk to Hot Wings owner Ghazarian, for example, saying he didn’t think

he’d be affected.

“I kind of feel bad that the association didn’t do a better job. Even

though we did have a meeting, we didn’t go directly to everybody and talk

to them about it. I see both sides.”

This isn’t the first time parking issues have entangled downtown

merchants with opposing viewpoints.

In March, plans to add handicapped access to the Glendale Centre

Theatre -- which would require the loss of 17 parking spaces from Lot 6

-- met outspoken opposition from neighboring merchants.

The opposition succeeded in delaying the project after it had received

unanimous support from the Redevelopment Agency. The plans are still

stalled today.

Tim Dietlein, co-owner of the Orange Street playhouse, is hoping the

city will also reconsider its Denny’s decision.

“I think if enough merchants come forward, maybe they’ll change their

minds,” Dietlein said. “The city is supposed to be working for and with

us, not against us.”