Proposed Historic District
for Verdugo Woodlands West
Discover the benefits of forming a historic district. It would:
Preserve the character and quality of the neighborhood that drew you to it in the first place while allowing for additions and ADUs;
Ensure new construction is compatible with neighboring properties;
Exempt your neighborhood from new state laws that allow developers to build four units (or more) where one single-family house now stands.
Read the Historic District Application submitted to the City of Glendale on May 31, 2022.
Facts about Historic Districts in Glendale
Property owners in Glendale have created nine historic districts covering over 1,300 homes to help preserve the character of their neighborhoods.
Historic District Design Guidelines help ensure that changes to a house or garage, when visible from the street only, will be compatible with its architectural style and existing features.
Do I need to remodel my house to get rid of changes that are not historic? NO!
Can I still add to my house? YES!
Can I put in a pool? As long as it’s in the backyard, YES!
Can I build an ADU and a JADU? YES!
Will the City tell me what color to paint my house? NO!
Does the historic district extend to my home’s interior? NO!
Do I need a permit to perform routine maintenance and repair? NO!
Do I need a permit to change windows, siding, roof, front door? OF COURSE!
This is Glendale! You already need permits for most alterations.
Do I need to go to a Commission to make changes? Not if they conform to the Design Guidelines! If you want, say, to build an addition over 700 square feet, you go to the Historic Preservation Commission INSTEAD of the Design Review Board (not both!).
The vast majority of work in Glendale historic districts is approved at the staff level without a hearing.
We think the Verdugo Woodlands is a wonderful neighborhood worth preserving. Don’t you?