Letter to the Editor:
In the coming weeks Burbank faces a simple but important choice about how we use publicly owned land in our downtown. The Central Library project should be a once-in-a-generation investment: a modern library, a welcoming public plaza, and a civic heart that draws people downtown. Yet along the way the proposal lost a crucial element — housing — and we are now discussing replacing that potential with a large parking structure.
The original plan identified capacity for up to 88 residential units on this site. Those units would be walkable and transit-adjacent, and the new residents they bring would strengthen small businesses, increase foot traffic, and add reliable, long-term economic vitality to our downtown. In short, smart, mixed-use development helps create the kind of sustained activity local businesses need to thrive.
Make no mistake: parking matters. Businesses and visitors need places to park. The question is balance and long-term strategy. Replacing residential capacity entirely with a four-story garage shifts the project toward a short-term fix rather than a long-term investment. Cities across the region are figuring out how to integrate housing, transit, and civic amenities to create vibrant, resilient downtowns — Burbank should be thinking along those lines, not defaulting to single-use solutions.
This Tuesday, March 10, the City Council will hold a study session on the Central Library site. Following that there will be additional community workshops designed to solicit feedback. Community input at moments like this matters. I emailed the Mayor and Council urging them to restore residential units to the plan, because how we use our public land affects our economy, our sustainability, and the quality of life we pass on to the next generation.
Burbank needs to make the kinds of thoughtful, long-term decisions that strengthen our local economy and preserve what we love about Burbank. I hope my neighbors will weigh in and email: citycouncil@burbankca.gov and encourage a balanced approach that builds a better downtown for everyone.
Eddy Polon
Burbank
