The City of Glendale has initiated environmental review for a proposed project which would replace a shuttered Sears with housing and a public park.

The former Sears - which occupies addresses including 236 N. Central Avenue and 212 W. California Avenue - is a three-story, approximately 180,000-square-foot building with a parking garage that has been vacant since 2020. In its place, an entity affiliated with property owner Merlone Geier Partners has proposed the construction of a pair of eight-story buildings featuring on roughly 4.5 acres of land. The project, which city presentations have previously indicated also involves Trammell Crow Residential, would include:

West plaza - Central Avenue and Orange StreetAC Martin

  • 666 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments;
  • 16 live/work units;
  • ground-floor commercial space; and
  • parking for 930 vehicles in one above-grade and two subterranean levels.

Approximately 15 percent of the new apartments would be deed-restricted affordable housing. A prior presentation indicated that the set-aside would amount to 69 units reserved for very low-income households.

California Avenue and Central AvenueAC Martin

The Sears site also includes a property located to the north at 201 W. California Avenue, which is being earmarked for conversion to a new public park.

AC Martin is designing the mixed-use complex, which was presented in 2022 to the Glendale City Council as a pair of contemporary podium-type buildings featuring plazas, courtyards, pool decks, and paseos. The park to the north was shown as a simple grass expanse line by seating and landscaping.

Construction of the proposed development is expected to occur in two phases over four years, commencing with a building at the eastern side of the property adjacent to Orange Street, and followed by the second building fronting Central Avenue to the west. Construction of the park could occur concurrently with either phase.

Central Avenue and paseoAC Martin

Other Los ANgeles County developments in the works from Trammell Crow Residential include the proposed Alexan Arroyo in Arcadia and the Alexan West End in Long Beach.

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