Glendora unveils $125 million conceptual Civic Center plan; council seeks input on funding and next steps
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Summary
City staff presented conceptual renderings and a rough order-of-magnitude $125 million cost estimate for a revamped Civic Center — including a new 50,000 sq. ft. library, a plaza, police additions and a 202-space parking structure — and asked the City Council for direction on funding, phasing and community outreach.
City officials presented conceptual plans and cost estimates for a redesigned Civic Center campus, saying the preliminary project would modernize City Hall, create a new 50,000-square-foot library, expand the police facility and add a three-level parking structure with about 202 spaces.
Assistant City Manager Moises Lopez told the City Council the DLR Group’s rough order-of-magnitude estimate for the concept is about $125 million, including phasing and escalation; he added that if construction began immediately staff would estimate roughly $110 million but rising costs push the working estimate to $125 million. “These renderings are simply conceptual. They need refinement. We need more community input, and we need more technical review before any decisions can be made,” Lopez said.
The plan shown to the council includes a renovated City Hall with a roughly 9,000-square-foot addition, an amphitheater-style 24,000-square-foot plaza intended as a gathering space linking the village and the future Metro A Line, an 8,000-square-foot addition to the police station and a multi-level parking garage with one below-grade level and about 202 spaces. Lopez said the plaza is intended to provide flexible event space for farmer’s markets, performances and other community programming.
Why it matters: Lopez said the city currently faces roughly $50 million in deferred maintenance for municipal facilities and a much larger, long-term need that could top $250 million to modernize all city structures. The Civic Center concept was presented as one piece of addressing long-term facility needs and as a potential item for future discussion about revenue measures. Lopez said a recent community survey showed roughly 53% support for a citywide facilities bond — below the two-thirds threshold required for general obligation bonds but potentially within reach for a citizen initiative requiring a simple majority.
Council members discussed next steps, including more detailed space-planning, additional renderings showing perspectives from Glendora Avenue, and cost refinements. Councilmember David Friedendahl announced an informational town-hall-style workshop on the station vision plan for Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. in the Bidwell Forum. Lopez said staff will return with proposed contract amendments for the DLR Group to refine plans and add perspectives the public has requested.
Public comment included concerns about notice and process. Resident Bob Moore said residents were not given adequate notice about earlier discussions tied to the vision plan and urged more open meetings; a youth speaker, Braden Elias, urged repairs and improvements to Finkbinder Skatepark (see related coverage). Lopez and other staff reiterated the renderings were conceptual and that no final decisions, funding commitments or construction contracts have been approved.
What’s next: Council unanimously voted to receive the presentation and asked staff for direction on community engagement and funding analysis for future meetings. Staff said the next steps will include more detailed cost and financing analysis, phased planning, and additional community outreach before any ballot or funding decisions are proposed.