City planners will ask the City Council on Tuesday to authorize a historical analysis for 87 homes in Ard Eevin Highlands and another for the 14-home stretch of Cottage Grove Avenue in south Glendale.
“We hope we have a district sometime in 2008,” said Jay Platt, historic preservation planner for the city.
Consultants two weeks ago submitted the majority portion of a $15,000 survey to city planners detailing the historical significance of the proposed Royal Boulevard district, a major step toward its completion, which is expected in April.
If the Royal Boulevard survey determines that at least 60% of the home facades are historically significant, supporters will need approval from the historical preservation and planning commissions and to gather signatures of support from more than 50% of the 30 affected homeowners before the request reaches the City Council.
Neighborhood coordinators of the effort collected 18 signatures last year to qualify for the survey, which obtained funding in August.
Proponents say the proposed Royal Boulevard district — between Mountain Street and Princess Drive — is a strong candidate with its relatively small size; iconic, palm-lined avenue; and eclectic mix of vintage home designs.
If approved later this year, it would be the first historic district in Glendale, after the City Council passed a comprehensive set of historical preservation ordinances five years ago.
With planned surveys for the block-long Cottage Grove Avenue and Ard Eevin Highlands up for funding, 2008 looks to be one of the most productive in terms of protecting old neighborhoods, preservationists say.
