Fact Page

Background
On June 24, 2025, the Glendale City Council approved the acquisition of the 2.39-acre property at 1000 South Central Avenue—formerly home to JOANN Fabric and Crafts—for $24.7 million. The site, located at Central Avenue and Chevy Chase Drive, is currently vacant and was identified as a strategic opportunity to increase park space in South Glendale.

 

Funding Sources
The acquisition is funded through a combination of local and regional sources:

• $8.08 million in Park Mitigation Fees previously earmarked for multi-purpose fields

• $14.3 million from the Park Mitigation Fee and Capital Improvement Funds

• $2.32 million in Measure A grant funds from Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District 

 

Community Benefit
Transforming the JOANN property into a public park would make it the fifth-largest park with green space in South Glendale. Potential features include playgrounds, water play, walking paths, restrooms, fitness equipment, drought-tolerant landscaping, and picnic spaces. This development will enhance the quality of life, health outcomes, and neighborhood cohesion. Parks have also proven to contribute to property values, local economies, and environmental sustainability.

A public planning process in the future will follow to ensure community input in the park's design.

 

High Priority: Addressing Park Deficiency in South Glendale

• South Glendale is the most park-deficient area in the City, with only 0.3 park acres per 1,000 residents, well below the county average of 3.3 acres.

• The acquisition of the JOANN property directly addresses a long-standing community priority—identified as a “top ten” need in the 2016 LA County Parks Needs Assessment—for a new park in South Glendale.

• The JOANN site offers a larger, centrally located parcel (2.39 acres) that can become the fifth-largest park in South Glendale.

 

Strategic Opportunity

• The availability of the JOANN property presented a unique and time-sensitive opportunity to acquire a sizeable parcel suitable for diverse park amenities.

• Acquiring parkland in a densely developed urban area is rare, so redirecting funds from smaller or less strategic projects is a better long-term investment for equitable park access.

 

Maximizing Impact

• The JOANN site offers significant public access and visibility.

• Allow for maximum community use, providing year-round open access without restrictions that non-traditional park space encumbers.

 

General Fund Constraints

• The City’s General Fund currently doesn’t have the capacity to support new park acquisitions or large-scale projects of this nature.

• In light of ongoing fiscal challenges, leveraging existing special-purpose funds is essential so as not to create undue pressure on the City’s General Fund and operating budget.

• Foresight into establishing Park Mitigation Fees allows the City to access dedicated funding that made this acquisition possible without relying on the General Fund.

 

What are Park Mitigation Fee funds?

Also known as Development Impact Fees (DIFs), these are dedicated funds collected from developers when new residential or commercial projects are built in the city. These fees are intended to mitigate the impact of new developments on public park and recreation infrastructure.

• Purpose:
  To ensure there are sufficient parks and recreational facilities to serve the new developments that bring more people into the community,

• Use Restrictions:
  By law, these funds must be used exclusively for acquiring, developing, or improving parks and recreational facilities. They cannot be used for unrelated city services or operational costs.

• Source:
  Collected as a one-time fee at the time of permit issuance for new development projects. The fee amount is typically calculated based on the number of housing units, square footage, or project type.

• Policy Intent:
  To prevent existing parks from becoming overcrowded or degraded by growth and ensure park access across neighborhoods.

• Strategic Value:
  These funds provide the City with financial flexibility to respond to strategic opportunities—like the acquisition of the Joanne property—without impacting the General Fund.

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To learn more about non-general funds, please click here.

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Click here to view the staff report.

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Watch the City Council Meeting on June 24, 2025.