Parking Big Issue for MSP

On Thursday, May 2, the Montrose Shopping Park board of directors was given a sneak preview by a city employee of the results of [a recent] parking study. The report said that there was adequate parking available for our shoppers.

Parking needs have been in conversation for almost 40 years. The 2017 2020 report submitted to Glendale City Council recommended both parking and infrastructure [improvements]. This report was based on comments made by customers, business owners and employees. Yet there is more concern for parking now since Glendale Community College announced that it had purchased the former Citibank building [on Honolulu Avenue] and would be having another school location in the MSP business district. [The board was] advised that there will be 200 students plus teachers and staff [at the facility]. There is not adequate parking (23 spaces) to accommodate this new demand.

The report was to have taken into account new parking demands from the college and the findings of the 2020 report. We were advised that we would need to meter our busiest public lots to get people to park in less convenient lots that may have available parking. As a business district, we need the support of Glendale from our sales and property taxes for parking for our customers that we serve and entertain. Convenience is a key ingredient for us to succeed.

We are also concerned about our local residents [whose houses are on] streets both north and south of Honolulu Avenue who will suffer from no parking in front of their homes.

There is a meeting scheduled for May 20 in the city chambers, 613 E. Broadway, Glendale, to voice concerns. The Montrose merchants will be there but we need concerned residents to voice their concerns, too. The City will avoid spending the money so we need to speak up to get them to serve the people.

Ken Grayson

Grayson’s Tune Town