Glendale officials may not be able to block the state from selling the Alex Theatre, but they can prevent a future buyer from turning the historic cultural site into a church or other type of venue they don't want at the prominent downtown location.
Last week, officials suggested that Glendale change the zoning of the land beneath the Alex Theatre to restrict its use to civic or cultural purposes.
“It adds another layer of protection to that particular facility,” said Gillian van Muyden, general counsel for the city's Community Development Department, at a Planning Commission meeting at City Hall.
On Wednesday, planning commissioners recommended that the City Council include the theater as part of the Civic Center District.
While most districts are geographically contiguous, the Civic Center is not. The district currently includes City Hall, the Los Angeles County Superior Courthouse, Central Library, Adult Recreation Center and the National Guard Armory, according to the city.