Glendale to buy 2.39‑acre site at 1000 S. Central Ave. for $24 million to expand South Glendale parkland

Glendale City Council on June 24, 2025, authorized staff to execute a purchase and sale agreement to acquire property at 1000 South Central Avenue for $24,000,000 plus approximately $700,000 in estimated closing costs and broker commission, and approved an appropriation plan to fund the purchase.

Staff and funding details

Oni Kualanikian, Director of Community Services and Parks, told council the site totals roughly 2.39 acres, with about 0.83 acres occupied by an existing building (previously a Joanne Fabrics location). Staff said the site is in South Glendale, an area identified in the city’s 2015 parks needs assessment as “park poor” with roughly 0.7 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.

The purchase and appropriation resolutions call for $24,000,000 plus approximately $700,000 in closing costs and broker commission. The appropriation resolution listed the funding plan as: appropriate $8,300,000 from the Development Impact Fee (DIF) fund balance, $2,321,967 from Measure A grant revenue, and transfers of $4,772,817 from the Wilson Middle School multipurpose field project and $3,305,216 from the Cerritos Elementary School multipurpose field project to the land acquisition project. Staff also told council that, overall, the city expects to use approximately $20,300,000 in DIF funds and about $2,000,000 from a Measure S general fund allocation, plus the $2,300,000 in Measure A grant funds recently awarded.

Council discussion and public comment

Beth Brooks, a public speaker, urged the city to pause or reconsider spending at this scale given growing homelessness and shelter needs in the city, saying the timing felt unsuitable to her. Councilmembers acknowledged those concerns and discussed interim uses and asset management. One councilmember asked whether the building could be leased temporarily; staff said the broker had received at least one inquiry about a short‑term, roughly six‑month tenancy.

Councilmembers emphasized they expect the site to become a park. Staff said that because Measure A grant funds are included, the property must be used as a park and that, if the existing building were retained, it would be required to function as a community center. After close of escrow, staff will issue an RFP to hire a consultant to lead community outreach and prepare conceptual designs; staff expects to return with conceptual plans within about nine to 12 months.

Outcome

Council approved the purchase and the appropriation resolutions; staff also requested a minor amendment to the purchase resolution to note CEQA exemptions for acquisition of land only and the council adopted the amendment. The roll call on the resolutions recorded unanimous affirmative votes among council members present.