About Us
Development Services Department
The Development Services Department leads the City's efforts in all Redevelopment and Economic Development activities. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in the City of Glendale by promoting well managed business growth and development. We accomplish this mission by consistently providing excellent service to all sectors of the community.
Glendale Redevelopment Agency
The Glendale Redevelopment Agency was created in 1972 for the purpose of improving, upgrading and revitalizing areas within the City that had become blighted because of deterioration, disuse, and unproductive economic conditions. It is a legal and separate public body, with separate powers and a separate budget from the City. The Agency is composed of the five City Council members who act as Agency Board members. The City Manager serves as Executive Director.
Mission
To enhance and improve the quality of life and to promote positive growth in the City of Glendale. This will be accomplished by facilitating retail, cultural arts, housing and office projects, providing tax revenue and jobs that benefit all of the City's residents.
Agency Purpose
The purpose of the Agency under California Redevelopment Law is to remove blight. Generally, the definition includes, but is not limited to, physical deterioration, lack of economic vitality, increase of negative social trends such as crime, aging infrastructure (i.e., street lighting), and high business vacancies. These blighting factors can be addressed and resolved by forming redevelopment project areas within the City and by investing the property tax increment generated by the development activity back into the project areas.
Redevelopment is one of the last economic tools for local government. Redevelopment is controlled by the City Council, acting as the local governing body, which has the authority and financial means to reverse deteriorating trends and create a new image for the City.
Economic Development
In October 1995, the City first adopted a Strategic Plan including 10 Strategic Directions. These strategic directions are at the heart of a comprehensive planning process to develop a vision of Glendale for the year 2010. While the strategic directions provide an overall vision for Glendale, they are intended to be the basis for each Department to develop tactical plans focusing on how the vision will be achieved. One of the strategic directions is devoted to economic development. As adopted, the Economic Development Strategic Direction is:
"To implement strategies and services that will create an environment in which business can develop and prosper."
The Economic Development Strategic Direction Implementation Plan is the tactical plan for Development Services to implement the direction. The Plan is periodically reviewed to ensure its application is appropriate. The Plan seeks to build on past years' accomplishments and address the current needs of the business community. Many of the activities and programs are currently in place; the Plan restates those programs and focuses on new areas of interest. The resulting document is one that provides a current and comprehensive structure for carrying out the City's program.
Development Services
633 E. Broadway, Room 201
Glendale, CA 91206
Redevelopment Agency - (818) 548-2005
Economic Development - (818) 548-3155
Business Assistance - (818) 548-3155