Glendale mayor outlines growth, housing and infrastructure goals at 75th State of the City

Mayor Bridal Kennedy used her State of the City address to present recent growth and future plans for Glendale, saying the city has added about 700 residents since 2015 and is pursuing redevelopment and infrastructure projects to support continued growth.

"It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you tonight and to deliver the state of our city at 75 years," Mayor Bridal Kennedy said, opening remarks that reviewed housing, economic, and transportation initiatives.

Kennedy told residents the city has welcomed roughly 600 new multifamily residential units in recent years and completed a 2040 master plan in 2019 that identified redevelopment targets and community priorities for gathering places and higher-density housing. She said Glendales gross equalized value has increased by nearly $1 billion over the past decade, including more than $250 million in net new construction.

One of the administrations major announcements is the establishment of the citys first tax incremental financing (TIF) district in more than 20 years to support a multifamily housing project Kennedy said will add 179 residential units with a project value of more than $40 million. She said the city is also evaluating other redevelopment sites, naming the Good Hope School property, the Regal Rexnord plant on Henry Clay Avenue, and the former Sunbeam Oster headquarters on Lydell Avenue as potential mixed-use or multifamily targets.

Kennedy described transportation projects that the city plans to pursue, including a $11 million Silver Spring Drive redevelopment intended to calm traffic and improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. She credited a $4 million congressional grant secured by Congresswoman Gwen Moore and an additional $3.9 million in funding from the State Department of Transportation toward that project. The mayor also said Glendale worked with the state on reconstruction efforts around I-43 and expects future collaboration on Green Bay Road improvements.

The mayor said the city used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to expand bike and pedestrian infrastructure, noting the city committed more than $1.5 million in ARPA money for connections, striped lanes and paved pathways that improve access to neighborhoods and parks. Kennedy highlighted Maslowski Park and the Sprecher Outdoor Oasis beer garden as examples of public-space investments that have bolstered community activity.

Kennedy also described economic and organizational developments: a Bayshore revitalization under new ownership, growth in commercial construction, and the launch of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce in December 2019. She said the chamber now counts "hundreds of businesses" and a staff of four. On finances, Kennedy said Glendale has maintained clean audits and a fund balance of nearly 40 percent of annual operating costs, a level she said supports continued investment while protecting taxpayers.

Kennedy closed by urging public engagement as the city plans for its centennial, saying residents will be asked next year to join conversations about what Glendale should look like at 100 years old.