One of downtown Glendale's most recognizable office towers could be trading office keycards for apartment keys.
Developer Izek Shomof is proposing to turn the 19-story tower at 101 N. Brand Blvd., just steps from the Americana at Brand, into roughly 312 apartments. The plan would repurpose more than 400,000 square feet of office space into housing at a time when investors are actively scouting tall, older office buildings for residential conversions.
According to Urbanize LA, a recent filing with the City of Glendale outlines an interior conversion of the tower into 312 units and requests both an administrative exception and an exception from local parking rules. County records and market reporting show Shomof purchased the property in mid-January for about $58.8 million, according to The Real Deal. Commercial listings put the building at roughly 410,000 to 416,000 square feet and note it was completed around 1990, per LoopNet.
What the filing asks for
The filing indicates the conversion will need sign-offs for both an administrative exception and relief from parking requirements before any building permits can be issued. City of Glendale public notices explain that projects needing exceptions typically move through staff review and, if necessary, public hearings.
Those steps will determine whether the proposal heads to the Planning Hearing Officer, the Design Review Board or the City Council for a final decision. In other words, there is still a fair bit of process between a paper filing and new residents actually moving in.
Why developers are eyeing office towers now
The proposed conversion reflects a broader regional trend. Softer office demand and policy shifts have made adaptive reuse more attractive to developers who see opportunity in half-empty towers.
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that rule changes and streamlined reviews have helped push more conversion projects forward across the region. Industry coverage also notes that Shomof has been an active buyer of discounted office towers and has pursued similar adaptive reuse plays in nearby markets, according to Commercial Observer.
If the Glendale application advances, the project would add hundreds of homes to downtown, though it would still face familiar hurdles that come with conversions, including parking relief, retrofit costs, financing and construction timelines.
Urbanize LA notes the filing is the first public sign of the conversion push. The city's planning page is expected to publish hearing dates and staff reports as the application moves through review. Nearby residents and business owners can keep an eye on the city's public notices page for formal hearing postings and project materials, via City of Glendale public notices.
