I was driving east on Magnolia in Burbank today, and had to marvel at the scrupulously clean curbs that were free of litter. I stopped my car, parked and took out my camera just to get a closer look.
At the corner of Evergreen and Magnolia, there is a former fresh fruit and vegetable stand that has been empty for a few years. It is for sale. Yet the curb in front of this property is swept as clean as if the owner were still there everyday with a broom and dustpan.
Then I drove home to Van Nuys, past the slum mall at the NE corner of Victory and Kester (14851 Victory). I have written about this place before, with its trash filled curb and unemployed men who sit five feet away, waiting for work. It is a disgrace.
Imagine if something like it existed in Burbank. Impossible! The crew cut, blue eyed mobs in VFW baseball hats, with Old Glory pinned on their perma-pressed khaki shirt lapels, would come out of their model airplane and train emporiums, and sweep up the mess themselves.
In all fairness to Van Nuys, not every curb is filled with trash. At Hamlin and Kester, next to the playing field of Van Nuys High School, the curbs were clean today. But if Burbank has slum malls, they are certainly hidden behind layers of fresh paint and pride in property.
Here in Van Nuys 
I used to work on Victory blvd, between Cedros and Vesper @ 14640. The front of my office had a store front door (that we kept locked all the time). Next to the door is a column and a planter- with a small space between the two where the after-hours mail slot is. I cannot tell you how many times in the 7 years working there that I got a front row seat to derilicts PEEING on our window.
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By the way, the new sidewalk in front of the new building will be wider than it is in front of that slump stone building with hideous red tile mansard. You can sort of see how that part of Magnolia might begin to evolve positively. Also note that the light standards are painted black. They are still cobra lights, but the black paint adds a little charm and lessens the sterility of the typical battleship gray.
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A two story office building with subterranean parking was approved. The facade will be at least 50% transparent glass, so no totally solid walls at the street. There was a dedication required that will result in a wider sidewalk along Magnolia. You might find it interesting to know that besides the subterranean parking, one of the most controversial elements of the building is the fact that it is built to the property line for at least 80% of the linear frontage to maintain and encourage the pedestrian “feel” of the area. Nearby residents and some on the City Council could not comprehend the 80% requirement and tried to push for a greater setback, but the planning staff said it would require a variance for which the applicant had not applied. I can’t fathom what their goal and why they wanted suburban strip mall setbacks.
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And can you elaborate….?
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A rather controversial project was recently approved for that site in Burbank.
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