The pace of new housing construction in Downtown Glendale has slowed from the fever pitch of five years ago, but signs are starting to point towards a rebound.

According to a notice published by the Glendale Planning Department, the former Sears property at 236 N. Central Avenue is up for redevelopment as part of a larger multifamily residential project consisting up 682 residential units - including live/work units on the ground floor. The proposed development would also incorporate a series of parcels located to the north of the Sears site at 301 W. California Avenue.

301 W California Avenue in GlendaleGoogle Street View

All of the parcels associated with the proposed project are owned by an entity affiliated with real estate investment firm Merlone Geier Partners. The company lists the 4.47-acre Sears property for lease on its website, advertising approximately 182,000 square feet of available space.

In addition to the vacant retail buildings, the two sites associated with the project are improved with surface parking.

236 N Central Avenue and 301 W California AvenueGoogle Maps

The project site is located just one block south of a mixed-use development with 219 apartments and retail space now taking shape at 409 N. Brand Boulevard, and is surrounded by a half-dozen similar projects completed over the past decade.

Merlone Geier Partners has previously worked to redevelop the 25-acre Laurel Plaza site in North Hollywood, which has been transformed into more than 600 apartments, 190,000 square feet of retail, and offices through the NoHo West project.