By Charles COOPER

The planned new Trader Joe’s Market in Montrose passed design review after some discussion, and is moving toward possible completion in 2011. The market has been in the discussion stage for several years as local leaders have looked for an anchor tenant for the west end of the Montrose Shopping Park. The project involves the development of a Trader Joe’s market on an approximately 1.1 acre site owned by the City of Glendale. The proposed 14,670 square-foot single-story building is located on the western portion of the site. A 60-space parking lot will be located in the eastern portion of the site. Access to the site will be from Honolulu Avenue.
Architect Kip Klayton said he had designed the building to reflect elements of Montrose’s historic past with brick and brick veneer, canopies and a rotunda/tower element for the entrance.
In keeping with the philosophy of being an environmentally friendly company, the Montrose market will become the first Southern California Trader Joe’s market to become a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building from the Green Building Council. It is important to note that Trader Joe’s is aiming for gold level certification from LEED, which would make it the second project citywide to do so with the other project being the Disney Child Care Facility currently under construction.
The citywide “Green Building” policy, currently being drafted, will have a minimum requirement of silver level certification, which is one level lower than gold. Some of the sustainable features planned for the market include site bio-swales to pervious paving and drought tolerant landscaping. To reduce energy consumption the market will use state of the art lighting and refrigeration equipment. Cooling and heating for the building will be provided by the inherent functions of the refrigeration equipment.
Water usage is reduced by the same equipment by extracting condensate and storing it for landscape irrigation and suitable fixture use within the building envelope. Cool roof technology and fenestration design was put into practice early into the market’s development. Interior environment is embellished with natural light, recycled materials and non-toxic paints and finish materials.
Design review board member Gio Aliano suggested the project be realigned. “I wonder what would happen if you put the parking lot on the east and the building on the west,” he posed.
Planner Roger Kiesel said that alignment was considered but it did not work with pedestrian access, entry from the shopping park and general alignment on the property.
Aliano suggested the shopping park look to construction of anchors to the east and west, with an eastern anchor developed at Honolulu and Verdugo. He ended up abstaining on the design as presented.
Board chair Ivan Insua suggested that the parking area on site for shopping carts be shifted to the north to avoid disrupting traffic and pedestrians. Member Judy Palmer called for the use of native, drought tolerant landscaping.

  Crescenta, glendale, Trader Joe’s