Montrose : Assessment District Hearing

In the wake of angry protests from some business owners, the Glendale City Council on Tuesday set a Nov. 10 hearing to consider dissolving a controversial assessment district that was to help pay for a $1.2-million, two-level parking garage for Montrose Shopping Park.

City officials said they have received numerous complaints that district boundaries and assessments levied in June are unfair. The city had planned to assess property owners for about one-third of the cost of building a parking structure with 173 spaces on the northwest corner of Broadview Drive and Market Street.

Many Montrose merchants have argued for years that additional parking is needed to attract major new tenants and to spur economic development of the quaint, outdoor mall. However, officials last summer rejected all 10 bids for the project as being too high and said new bids will be sought early next year.

Officials Tuesday said they will await the outcome of the hearing before developing a new assessment district or financing plan. The hearing will be at 2 p.m. in the council chambers, 613 E. Broadway.