Housing plans face final vote

CITY HALL — Proposals for two large residential projects are expected to clear major hurdles today when the City Council considers final development agreements that would allow construction to begin.

One is a modern, 24-story condominium tower that city officials say would significantly change Glendale’s downtown skyline. The other is a three-building apartment complex on San Fernando Road that would provide 68 affordable rental units for lower-income families.

Both projects have moved successfully through the city’s development pipeline over the past two years, securing approvals from the council, Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency. Today is the last step needed before developers can start drawing up their building plans, city officials said.

The proposed 24-story Verdugo Gardens tower — which would replace the Crocodile Cafe and nearby medical office at Central and Sanchez avenues near the Ventura (134) Freeway — has been under review since 2005.

City planners initially had high praise for the project’s modern architecture and use of sky gardens, or large open-air terraces spaced throughout the facade that look like holes in the building. But the tower’s design has since been scaled down from 11 sky gardens to five, and the overall profile of the project has been subdued, leading the city’s urban designer to call it “a less ambitious architectural proposition” in an evaluation.

Still, city planners determined the toned-down project is a signature design that — taken together with the more than 8,600 square feet of open space the project would provide — qualifies the tower for city incentives that allowed architects to incorporate an additional seven stories.

The Planning Commission agreed last week, and voted to recommend the city move forward with the height incentives.

If the City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, grants the Verdugo Gardens project final approval, developers could then start drawing up building plans, said Development Services Director Philip Lanzafame.

“This is a major hurdle for them,” he said.

Also today, the Housing Authority will vote on executing a development agreement with City Lights LP to construct a three-building affordable housing complex at 3673 San Fernando Road that would provide 68 mostly three-bedroom apartments for lower-income residents.

City Lights and its parent company, Advanced Development and Investment Inc., are the developers of two other affordable housing projects in Glendale — the 65-unit Metropolitan City Lights building at 1855 S. Brand Blvd. and the 44-unit Metro Loma project at 328 Mira Loma Ave., which is currently under construction.

The Housing Authority is expected to approve the agreement — which would give the city ownership of the land in exchange for a $1-a-year lease to the developer for up to 99 years — after having already committed nearly $9.8 million to the project.

Glendale’s affordable housing agreement is needed for City Lights to activate its other funding sources for the $36.5-million project, said Peter Zovak, deputy director of housing.

“It’s a major funding component for the developer,” he said.

Besides Glendale’s $9.8 million, City Lights is using $19.9 million in state tax credits, $4.3 million in loans and $2.3 million in private equity to fund what would be the city’s largest affordable housing project for lower-income families, according to the Community Development and Housing Department.

The agreement would also give the city the option to purchase the buildings after 56 years, and require City Lights to complete work on the $36.5-million project within 22 months of starting construction.

Verdugo Gardens is expected to produce $800,000 a year in tax increment funding for parks and libraries, according to a city report.

Development impact fees from both of the proposed developments are projected to produce more than $1.5 million for parks and libraries, according to the report.

The joint City Council meeting with the two agencies begins at 2:30 p.m. today in council chambers, 613 E. Broadway.

 JASON WELLS covers City Hall. He may be reached at (818) 637-3235 or by e-mail at jason.wells@latimes.com.