Glendale News Press - February 13, 2007
by Robert S. Hong
CITY HALL - Glendale Career College will move into the former Cost Plus building on Brand Boulevard after getting a unanimous vote from the city Redevelopment Agency Tuesday.
The school - currently on Grandview Avenue - has been trying for more than a year to relocate to the building, owned by Dorn Platz, of Pasadena. And after agreeing to terms limiting the time they will be there and reducing the space they will occupy, limits the agency proposed in December, they were able to get their wish. "Our existing facility is showing its age," said Seth Webber, Glendale Career College campus director. "Here we can have a fresh start and a fresh face for the students."
Some members of the agency, which is made up of City Council members, didn't like the site for a college and were worried about parking. So in December the agency laid out the space and time conditions, which the college and property owner had to agree to in order to get a parking exception needed to move into the property.
The school cut the amount of classroom space the college will take up in the building nearly in half - from 15,294 square feet to 8,310 square feet. There will also be an additional 10,050 square feet of office space.
The enrollment cap at the college was also brought down from a proposed 622 students to 425 students. Current enrollment on Grandview is 250.
With the council's approval, the college can now purchase 140 parking passes at the Orange Street Public Parking Garage for students, faculty and staff.
The parking exception will last a maximum of three years, and the college has volunteered to post a $1-million cash bond to guarantee they will vacate the building after that time. Another condition requires a guarantee that Dorn Platz will terminate the lease with the college on or before the end of the three-year term.
Conditions also include a nonbinding letter of intent between Dorn Platz and the college stating that after the college's term at the building is up, Dorn Platz will lease space for the college at a building they are proposing to construct at the corner of San Fernando Road and Doran Street.
This San Fernando/Doran project has not yet been approved.
Even with the new conditions, some agency members were concerned about the effect the college would have on downtown parking.
Mayor Dave Weaver was concerned what would happen if students started parking on the street instead of in the structure, and questioned whether college officials intended to take steps such as imposing fines to keep that from happening.
Webber said he expected that parking would be obeyed, since students would have the reserved spots, but that the school would be willing to do what it took to enforce the measure.
"Since the school is paying for those parking spots, we obviously have a strong economic incentive to see those used," Webber said. "If not, we don't have a specific series of fines in place, but we would be happy to look at that."
Councilman Frank Quintero said he was in favor of the project and the much-needed educational services it will continue to offer the city.
"The reason I was for this in the beginning [is because] it continues to keep training opportunities available in the city of Glendale," he said.
Though there was some debate whether the college was the best use for the property, the council generally agreed that having the college at the facility for three years would be acceptable.
"At the end of the day, for a three-year term, having that college at that location will be fine with me," Councilman Bob Yousefian said.
School officials said the college will make the move to the new building within 60 days.
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ROBERT S. HONG covers City Hall. He may be reached at (818) 637-3235 or by e-mail at robert.honglatimes.com
© 2007 Glendale News Press