The City’s goal in creating historic districts is to help residents protect and enhance the appearance of neighborhoods that reflect important aspects of our history due to their architectural or historic character. By regulating changes proposed in these areas, we hope to discourage the alteration or removal of historic features and design elements that could affect the overall appearance of neighborhood. This doesn’t mean that properties are frozen in time and can’t be changed – all buildings change over the years and we don’t intend to keep that from happening. Basically, the main difference between owning property in a historic district and any other part of Glendale is that when owners in a district apply to do work on their house or building, the Historic Preservation Commission reviews the proposal instead of the Design Review Board. That way, the City’s historic specialists are involved to make sure we don’t lose the character that makes Glendale’s historic districts such special places.

Historic districts are only created after community members file an application with the City, which then begins a process that thoroughly reviews the area’s historic background and current condition to determine if it meets the City’s standards. The designation process includes many public meetings and hearings where property owners and area residents can voice their opinion about a proposed district.

If you have any questions about historic districts, please contact the City's Historic Preservation Planner at (818) 548-2140.