Welcome to Vision for Glendale, creating a Vision for Glendale's future.
You are invited to be part of a grassroots movement to shape a vision for Glendale that will complement the city's current long-range planning. Please join me and other Glendale stakeholders and community leaders. We do not yet know the shape this new vision will ultimately take because a vision is not the creation of one person, one group or even a city government. A vision can only emerge out of an inclusive process that engages all sectors of our community in a true conversation. Given the richness of our diversity, we need community-wide participation from citizens eager to make a difference.
Together, we can shape a vision for Glendale that will touch, move, inspire and bless our entire community. You will have an opportunity to make a significant contribution to what the future of Glendale will look like for generations to come.
In the Next Steps, we will address the balance between ideas that surface with fact-based analysis of our existing assets and facilities, together with a study of similar endeavors in other cities.
At this very time, the city is studying where and how to allocate resources for the future. This is the appropriate and opportune time to make a difference in Glendale. Will you join us in shaping the future of Glendale to foster Unity and Pride in our community?
A meeting was held at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium on April 20, 2006, hosted by Fr. Joseph Shea. At that meeting concerned citizens discussed the Vision for Glendale.
What to Change
- Focus on neighborhood feeling, personal community, economic stability, interest of the community, preserve natural resources, more parks to counter the effect of density, accountability to government and more participation to correct the apathy, low-rent businesses, no meeting venues
- Not enough space for housing; duplex vs. condos, some growth rate; better transportation solutions (fuel efficient); zoning; more arts and culture venues (state of the art performing arts center -- We have the talent, but not the venue.) Open space (outdoor green space) for cultural venues.
- Change to a city council elected by district rather than at-large.
- Conflict between big money and mediation (?)
- We do not have good shopping, even with our malls, which were high-end in their day. Brand is no longer a premier street; the Galleria is no longer a premier shopping mall. Consider public transportation between shopping malls (at Mervyns).
- Architecture of America shows where we can go in this city. To get the urban space, we need to bring up the concept of style.
- City structure, Glendale's uniqueness; visionary leadership; work together and compromise
- WI-FI throughout the city
The Vision
- A city that embraces diversity, nurtures opportunity for growth, and respects family values.
- Improve education through participation
- Strengthen city's infrastructure and attract new business.
- Arts and music; animation; public/student art; theatre
- More joint-use projects
- Try to get the diverse cultures agree upon one thing and then DO IT. Then demonstrate that it can happen again.
What We Like
- Beautiful hillside landscape
- Geographical location
- Quaint neighborhoods
- Small town flair
- No ghetto
- Ball fields - football, baseball, soccer
- Verdugo Skate Park
- Safe city, class A fire service
- Own Power Utility company
- Sense of community
What We Don't Like About Glendale
- Ordinary
- Divided population
- South Glendale density
- Lack of downtown green space
- Los Angeles River
- School Quality
- Glendale City Council micro management
- Government payroll and pension oversize
- Untaxed banquet halls
- Glendale Civic Auditorium monopolization
What Else?
- Live and work downtown -- vibrant urban environment
- More arts and culture
- Transportation solutions
- Preservation of hillsides
- Improved government, accountability
- Affordable housing, smaller houses, and duplexes are needed.
- Conference center -- destination center