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Burbank advances Palm Paseo makeover; council directs staff to relocate Cultural Market during work
Summary
The City Council backed a plan to revitalize the AMC Walkway/Palm Paseo with new seating, shade and public art and directed staff to work with the Downtown Burbank Cultural Market on a temporary relocation while the project and a May–July public art exhibit proceed.
The Burbank City Council on March 24 advanced a Palm Paseo/AMC Walkway beautification project intended to refresh downtown with landscaping, permanent seating, upgraded lighting and rotating cultural programming. City staff said the improvements will support upcoming events — including a Richard Orlinski sculpture exhibit slated May 12–July 20 and the Los Angeles 2026 FIFA Fan Zone — and put work out to bid in August 2026.
The project, presented by Community Development Senior Administrative Analyst Marissa Cardwell, is designed to create more shade and seating and to connect the walkway to nearby parking and the Orange Grove parking structure. Cardwell said the construction drawings will be finalized this year and that the market and other events will be unable to operate on the walkway after April 27 because of the exhibit and work staging.
Why it matters: The Paseo is a heavily used pedestrian corridor that links San Fernando Boulevard to First Street and serves downtown restaurants, theaters, and retail. Developers and some property owners supported the refresh as an economic- development step to increase foot traffic and position Burbank for major regional events. Supporters of the Downtown Burbank Cultural Market warned relocation could harm small vendors who rely on weekend crowds.
Vendors and residents packed the public-comment period, urging the council to preserve the market’s accessibility. Amber Liu, a longtime vendor, said the market “brings consistent crowds who then stay to eat, shop, and explore,” and called the market “a touchstone of the city.” Market organizer Hilda Avanessian told council she has “always been open, collaborative, and solution-oriented” and said she had proposed alternatives that would allow temporary moves during renovation.
Staff response and council direction: City staff recommended the City Hall parking lot as a likely temporary option and said that it has power infrastructure there; staff also said other downtown sites could be explored. The city flagged practical constraints: a required 26-foot fire-lane clearance through the walkway, permission needed from adjacent private property owners, and the recurring cost and logistics of closing public streets (meridian barricades and police staffing).
After extended discussion, councilmembers directed staff to work with the Cultural Market on temporary relocation options (City Hall parking lot as a near-term option if needed), to prepare a budget discussion paper on investing in removable bollards and street-closure infrastructure for Palm Avenue, and to return with status updates. Council also approved a public walking tour of the Paseo design for councilmembers to review the proposed changes in person before finalizing construction drawings.
What’s next: City staff will coordinate with the market operator on relocation logistics and signage for the interim site; the Orlinski exhibit will be installed beginning May 12, and staff expect to go to bid on construction documents in August 2026. Vendors, property owners and the PBID will continue to participate in follow-up meetings. The council instructed staff to return with cost and feasibility information on potential bollards and street-closure alternatives and to provide updates on market negotiations.
