Conrads, agency have history

Karen S. Kim

NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- When it comes to facing development plans for

the property neighboring his own eatery on Central Avenue, co-owner of

Conrads Restaurant Tony Dalkas is no novice.

The restaurateur has been working, sometimes with and sometimes

against, the Glendale Redevelopment Agency for more than 13 years on

proposals for 212 W. Burchett St.

The relationship between the two groups goes back to 1989, when the

redevelopment agency acquired Conrad’s front parking lot. The agency has

been leasing the property back to Dalkas since.

Though Dalkas said the lot was acquired through eminent domain,

Development Services Director Jeanne Armstrong said she couldn’t be sure

how the land was purchased.

“I’m sure the agency acquired the property legally,” Armstrong said.

After the lot was acquired, talk arose of relocating Conrads to

accommodate the different hotels interested in the Burchett property. For

reasons including difficulty settling on a parking arrangement for the

hotel, the Burchett site was bypassed for a different site on 100 W.

Glenoaks Blvd., where the Hilton Glendale now stands, Armstrong said.

While the agency headed back to the drawing board, it turned the

Burchett site into a parking lot.

“The agency doesn’t just like to fence our parcels, so we installed

meters in the lot and leased back lots in front of Conrads,” Armstrong

said.

In 1997, the agency sent out a request for proposals to build an

office building on the Burchett lot. Again the agency and Dalkas

considered relocating Conrads to accommodate the office building.

Though the agency settled on developer Reliance Development Co., the

market for office space fizzled before the project could break ground. So

the agency looked to bringing a second hotel in Glendale.

Dalkas stepped in two years ago to protest a Marriott hotel project

before the city. The restaurant owner said he spent in excess of $50,000

submitting responses to the agency in opposition to the proposal, he

said.

And Dalkas’ latest battle involves a 14-story Embassy Suites Hotel

proposed for the neighboring property. Conrads contends the project is

too big for its site and is suggesting that Conrads be relocated to

accommodate the hotel.

Dalkas said he is tired of battles with the agency.

“There’s more productive things we should be doing with our time,” he

said. “I don’t feel that I’ve kept my restaurant up to the competition

the way I would like to because of the hold the city has on me. They

won’t give me a permit to expand my patio, dining room and cocktail room

and I feel like I’m penalizing my clientele.”