Thursday, February 6, 2014

Affordable Housing 101


The Housing Division recently hosted three public meetings to inform the community about the status of affordable housing in Glendale. Citizens often contact us with questions about Section 8 or to inquire about the availability of affordable housing units in the City. These meetings were intended to answer some of the frequently asked questions and to shed some light on how affordable housing is accomplished in Glendale.

Over 500 people attended the meetings. Presentation were made in English, Spanish and Armenian and materials were provided to all attendees in their preferred language.

If you were not able to attend one of these meetings, please feel free to browse through the presentation slides and the printed materials that were distributed. If you have any questions, please contact the Housing Division at (818) 548-3936.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Building & Safety Code 2014

Every three years, the State of California adopts new model codes to establish uniform standards for the construction and maintenance of buildings, plumbing systems, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and fire & life safety systems. Pursuant to Health & Safety Code Section 18941.5, local jurisdictions are mandated to adopt such state codes, generally within 180 days after publication of the code by the California Building Standards Commission. 

Local adoption of such codes is mandated on January 1, 2014, and requires a four-fifths (4/5th) approval of the City Council. Prior to such adoption, jurisdictional bodies may amend said codes if such amendments are justified on the basis of a local climatic, local geological or local topographical condition which makes such amendment(s) necessary.

Staff from the Community Development’s Building and Safety Division and the Fire Department have reviewed the state codes, and have proposed a number of local amendments for adoption as the Building and Safety Code of the City of Glendale, 2014, with proper justifications to be submitted to the California Building Standards Commission. 

These amendments are deemed necessary to maintain the current level of protection throughout the City of Glendale, that has been provided through the current Glendale Building and Safety Code.  In fact, many of the proposed amendments have been carried over from the current code.

Five Properties Added to the Glendale Register of Historic Places


City Council recently voted to place five new properties on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources.
  1. The Municipal Services Building at 633 E. Broadway, Glendale Register's 100th Property
    It serves as an excellent example of 1960s Modern civic designs in Southern California. The building was designed by architect Merrill W. Baird of Glendale, working in collaboration with A. C. Martin Architects of Los Angeles, and completed in 1966 at a cost of $1.8 million.
  2. Glendale Register No. 101; the Webb House at 611 Cumberland Road
    The house is a notably late example of Period Revival architecture, built in 1950 and designed by George Postle of the father-son architectural firm Postle and Postle.
  3. The Municipal Services Building
    The Webb House