Renovation

High-end department store Bloomingdale's announced plans this morning to become an anchor tenant for the Glendale Galleria -- a major addition for the mega mall that has struggled to retain its shine against the sway of the Americana at Brand. The Galleria would be Bloomingdale's eighth department store in Southern California and fill a major void after Americana developer Rick Caruso announced plans earlier this year that he was poaching Nordstrom. Without a new tenant, the Galleria would have had two major anchor vacancies -- on Brand Boulevard where Mervyns once stood, and on Central Avenue.

Renovation work at the Glendale Galleria is going full steam ahead as the aging retail behemoth strives to keep itself attractive next to its glitzy neighbor, the Americana at Brand. The large-scale renovation project is scheduled to wrap up just before Bloomingdale's opens in October 2013 on the corner of Brand Boulevard and Broadway, where Mervyn's was located. Crews are now in the thick of installing new handrails along the second floor, a pit has been dug for a new elevator, and prep work is underway to cover the brick on the mall's interior walls with drywall.

Clara's Dream, a shelter operated by the Santa Clarita Valley Domestic Violence Center, was scheduled to reopen Friday following a major renovation. The shelter underwent  a much-needed face lift thanks to donations of money, time and materials from HomeAid of Los Angeles and Ventura, a national nonprofit that provides temporary housing for homeless families; from the home builder Pardee Homes; and from local construction trade companies. “We now have a shelter that provides a warm and loving environment for families who need emergency shelter,” Pamela Braly, chair of the domestic violence center's board of directors said in prepared remarks.

Officials of the First Baptist Church of Glendale are basking in the glow of accomplishment with the completion of the sanctuary’s restoration. The first service after the renovation was held on Christmas Eve, and the sanctuary was rededicated Sunday during the worship service. The congregation was organized in 1904, and over the last 105 years, it has met in three buildings. The groundbreaking ceremony for the present sanctuary was in 1925. Sunday services were held in the chapel during renovation, said Pastor Charles L. Updike, who came to the church in 2007.

Marshall Allen LA CRESCENTA -- Giving local landmark St. Luke's of the Mountains Episcopal Church a renovation is a job to be undertaken with caution. The stone church, which had its cornerstone laid on Easter Sunday 1924, was only the second church built in the Crescenta Valley, according to Father Ron Jackson. It was designed by local portrait artist S. Seymore Thomas. After this Sunday's worship services, its sanctuary will undergo a 60- to 90-day renovation.

Gary Moskowitz A sign that reads "Office Here" at Roosevelt Middle School lets visitors know where to find administrative personnel, in case they are confused by the cluster of portable buildings and fencing that line the north side of campus. The school's front offices were moved into portable buildings along Acacia Avenue so the old offices could be converted to science classrooms. The new science classrooms are part of a $13-million Measure K renovation project that began at the school more than three years ago and is expected to be completed next year.

The city of Glendale hopes to have renovation work completed on the Le Mesnager Barn in Deukmejian Park by 2006, according to a recent report to the City Council. The stone barn, a part of a winery that operated in La Crescenta before Prohibition, has been designated an historic monument and planned for renovation and rehabilitation. The city has obtained grants totaling $495,000 to seismically strengthen the structure, and hopes to receive an additional $1.3 million from the state to complete the project.

CITY HALL — Major renovations to one of the city’s oldest parks should begin this fall if the City Council on Tuesday approves the final concept plan for Griffith Manor Park. Acquired in 1937, the 3-acre park near the San Fernando Corridor is one of the city’s oldest public facilities and hasn’t undergone a major renovation since the early 1970s. The City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday, is scheduled to review a concept plan featuring a 2,400-square-foot community building, new restrooms, lights, irrigation systems, a lighted basketball court, benches and picnic pavilions, a new “splash pad” children’s water play area and an expanded parking lot and playground.

The Brand Library celebrated its upcoming renovation with a book, music and art sale that was held through Dec. 14. Members of the library were admitted to the sale at no cost while others donated $5. The event was sponsored by the Glendale Historical Society and the Associates of Brand Library. The renovation to the library includes plans for improved mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems as well as improved space utilization.

Progress is being made on the renovation of the Montrose Scout House on Montrose Avenue. The Girl Scout Mt. Wilson Vista Council broke ground on the project this past summer. The project marks the council’s third major renovation through its Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Future capital campaign. At the 4,161-square-foot Montrose Program Center, infrastructure upgrades underway include new heating and cooling installation and duct work, a re-piping of the building, Internet wiring throughout the facility, and new, expanded first-floor lighting.

One of Glendale's most historic buildings - a place from which Charles Lindbergh flew the first Los Angeles-to-New York flight and where P-38 Lighting pilots trained for World War II dog fights - is being restored by the Walt Disney Co. The Grand Central Air Terminal, located on Disney's Grand Central Creative Campus off of Flower Street, will be given a total makeover to restore its appearance from the 1929-1959 period while also serving as...

The City Council has declined to grant historic status for two recently renovated Craftsman bungalows because the owner failed to completely preserve the early 1900s-era properties, which were considered valuable landmarks at risk of demolition. The historic designation would have triggered a state law that reduces property taxes in exchange for stricter rules governing alterations. Siding with the Historic Preservation Commission, the council voted 3-2, with Councilwoman Laura Friedman and Mayor Frank Quintero dissenting, to deny the historic status.

A casual, sit-down Vietnamese-centric restaurant is now open adjacent to what will soon be a completely renovated entrance to the Glendale Galleria. Called 9021pho, chef Kimmy Tang, a partner on the project, is well-known in the culinary world for her unique, health-conscious approach. And the restaurant fulfills the mall's goal of finding a unique vendor for such a prominent location. “You can get lots of burgers and fries everywhere,” said Shoshanna Puccia, senior marketing manager for the Galleria.

The Alex Theatre logged a 22% jump in income during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2011, when the historic venue was coming out of a summer of intrusive renovations. Still, city officials this week said the surge is nothing to sneeze at. When comparing the first quarter results to the same period over the last four years, the theater saw 8% higher than average total income, according to a city report released Tuesday. Plus, while other first quarters had 10 to 15 days of activity, this most recent quarter had 29. “It's another step forward for the Alex Theatre,” said Philip Lanzafame, Glendale's officer for economic development and asset management.

The price tag for renovations at the Rose Bowl continues to balloon, with officials adding $6 million last week to a construction contract for the already well-over-budget project. The money is needed to cover repairs for botched upgrades installed ahead of the 1994 World Cup games and increased labor costs incurred in the rush to finish seating upgrades before UCLA's football home opener on Sept. 8, officials said. Originally expected to cost $152 million, the project is now budgeted at about $170 million - excluding $14 million in work that has already been deferred because of cost concerns.

It's finally finished. After six years and an $8-million restoration, the historic Seeley's building in Glendale celebrated a grand opening Wednesday with temporary “pop-up” galleries that featured the works of more than 30 artists. The building, located at 1800 S. Brand Blvd., was built in 1925 and underwent an Art Deco makeover in the 1940s for George Seeley and his furniture company. But it's been untouched for about 65 years, said Henry Priest, spokesman for the building's owners, 1800 Brand Associates, which worked in the joint venture with the Seeley family.

National Fire Systems & Services - whose remodel of former Councilman John Drayman's condominium continues to drag out in court over claims of nonpayment - is claiming that the firm actually in charge of the project was the affordable housing developer accused of bilking Glendale and other cities out of tens of millions of dollars. If true, the claim - listed for the first time in recent Los Angeles County Superior Court records - would bolster the case that Drayman knew National Fire was working for the developer, Advanced Development and Investment Inc., at the same time he was sitting on the City Council and thus able to influence the firm's agreements with the city.

Renovation work at the Glendale Galleria is going full steam ahead as the aging retail behemoth strives to keep itself attractive next to its glitzy neighbor, the Americana at Brand. The large-scale renovation project is scheduled to wrap up just before Bloomingdale's opens in October 2013 on the corner of Brand Boulevard and Broadway, where Mervyn's was located. Crews are now in the thick of installing new handrails along the second floor, a pit has been dug for a new elevator, and prep work is underway to cover the brick on the mall's interior walls with drywall.

Extensive renovations to the Casa Verdugo library are nearing completion, but work on the adjoining fire station still has a long way to go. Even as a significant portion of the second floor at Fire Station 26 is being gutted, officials hope to open the Casa Verdugo library on the 1100 block of North Brand Boulevard before May 1 - excluding any construction delays, Libraries Director Cindy Cleary said. The library and fire station have shared the building since 1951. A complete teardown of the building had been planned, but when the economy took a downturn in 2008, those plans were quashed, said Glendale Fire Battalion Chief Greg Godfrey.

Extensive renovations to the Casa Verdugo library are nearing completion, but work on the adjoining fire station still has a long way to go. Even as a significant portion of the second floor at Fire Station 26 is gutted, officials hope to open the Casa Verdugo library on the 1100 block of North Brand Boulevard before May 1 - excluding any construction delays, Libraries Director Cindy Cleary said. The library and fire station have shared the building since 1951. A complete tear-down of the building had been planned, but when the economy took a downturn in 2008, those plans were squashed, said Glendale Fire Battalion Chief Greg Godfrey.