By Nicole MOORE

On July 6, the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. welcomed City of Glendale Mayor Vartan Gharpetian to its monthly meeting. Members of the MSPA were quick to express their concern over the now vacant Citibank location at 2350 Honolulu Ave. MSPA members voiced their apprehension in allowing a developer to build on the property with the intent of mixed-use, as it would not be cohesive with the charming, homespun aesthetic of the Montrose Shopping Park.

 “We are trying to keep this Americana, Mayberry look … We just want to know the community is being considered. Whoever buys the building, let them know this is a very special community,” requested Andre Ordubegian, president of the MSPA.

Mayor Gharpetian addressed these concerns and attempted to ease the MSPA’s worries regarding the property, stating, “No one on the city side is trying to destroy the continuity of Montrose. We love Montrose.”

Members of the MSPA also thanked Mayor Gharpetian for his role in granting the installation of new grass in front of the Starbucks and Paradis properties in the 2200 and 2300 blocks of Honolulu.

Further into the meeting, Jennifer McLain, principal economic development officer, and Lauren Bow, administrative intern from the City of Glendale, updated the MSPA on the upcoming Glendale Tech Week. The event, highlighting innovators and entrepreneurs, will take place citywide from Oct. 9 through Oct. 12. On Oct. 10, restaurants and shops in the Montrose Shopping Park will host tech-theme events. Participants in the event can look forward to coding classes, a robotics fair and various speakers discussing the ways in which technology has affected their respective fields.

Joanna Westerholm Linkchorst from Friends of Rockhaven called for public support in the reopening of the Rockhaven property. In 2016, the Glendale City Council decided not to sell the former sanitarium to interested developers. However, an estimated cost of $3 million will be needed for renovations in order for the property to be open to the public. For those interested in voicing their support for the reopening of Rockhaven, visit https://www.friendsofrockhaven.org.

On Aug. 18-19, the MSPA will host the 8th Annual Montrose Film Festival. The free two-night event is appropriate for all ages. The film festival will begin each night at 6 p.m. and be held at the Andersen’s Pet Shop parking lot, 2218 Honolulu Ave., and the Montrose Travel parking lot, 2349 Honolulu.

The next Montrose Shopping Park Associate meeting will be held on Aug. 4 at Glendale Community College PDC, 2340 Honolulu Ave., at 8 a.m.

  Nicole MOORE