Building Below Standards

Some time ago, the Redevelopment Agency and the city fathers of Glendale approved the construction of the Carnation world headquarters building at 800 N. Brand Blvd. The main structure is complete. From the outside wrapping, it all looks great--an interesting office building, lots of trees, shrubs, fountains and walkways visible from Brand Boulevard and Monterey Road.

But, drive past the corner, turn down Monterey Road and see the disaster that has been created. Adjacent to the monument to Carnation is its parking garage. There one can see a cheaply constructed, neon-lit blight. Forty-four homeowners, who previously enjoyed beautiful mountain views, now face open spaces filled with autos, auto fumes and rows and rows of neon lights--even surging above the 45-foot building height guidelines.

If one drives around Glendale, one notes the care and consideration given by other developers when building parking garages at 222 Monterey, the Glendale Federal Building at Monterey and Brand, the garages facing Goode Street between Brand and Central Avenue, 500 N. Brand and 550 N. Brand. What did Carnation offer Glendale to have a different set of standards laid down for it? Why is it able to create a blight on a residential street when no other developers have done this much damage to our commercial streets?

This is a time when businesses and their leaders are being called upon to pay greater attention to the environment, to contribute their fair share to the quality of life in the communities in which they reside. Why are we not asking this of Lincoln Properties and the Carnation Co.? Were they excused from corporate responsibility for the next century?

Our corporate “neighbors” have shown little sensitivity to the rights of others. They have shown no sensitivity to the standards of the community they chose and none to the environment the city fathers worked to create. This should not be recognized as acceptable behavior.

KAREN ARDEN

Glendale