Remote Surveillance Trailer in Glendale, CA

GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Glendale's historic Sears and Roebuck building used to be an art deco centerpiece of downtown Glendale. Now, it's the center of a battle between a property developer and the city's mayor.

Located at the intersection of Central and California avenues, the Sears building opened its doors in 1936. But Sears declared bankruptcy in 2018, and the building has now been vacant for about a year and a half.

The owner of the building has submitted plans to tear it down and replace it with housing, commercial space and a public park.

Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, however, argues the building should be preserved for its historic significance.

"This was a favorite store. Many people had their first jobs here, they met their spouses here, they bought their first bicycle, first washer and dryer for newlyweds," said Najarian.

According to Najarian, the developer's proposal includes 682 new apartments. Some argue that the increased housing would be beneficial for the community.

"If it's going to turn into another corporate or commercial building, I'd rather have it turn into a residential because Glendale is so congested, I think we need additional housing for people," said Glendale resident Tina Amirkhanyan.

Despite the mayor's wishes, the city no longer has a say in the matter. A new state law can't force developers to go through a historic review process if the building isn't already registered as a historic landmark when the plans are submitted.

Najarian says this is just one example of the city losing control over its own history. He wrote a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom about his concerns, but has not heard back yet.

Najarian says the Sears building could be demolished by the end of the year. He urges the community to be proactive and fight to preserve pieces of local history.

Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center secured a 10-year lease for 50,836 square feet at the Onni Group’s 611 N. Brand in Glendale, Calif. The $18.8 million lease encompasses two full floors within the 396,000-square-foot office tower and is one of the largest Glendale, Calif., office deals this year.

The nonprofit — which provides services to more than 9,000 children and adults with developmental delays — will consolidate its office footprint into this single location, gaining direct freeway access and upgraded tenant amenities. Lanterman Regional Center will be moving out of its current premises at the United Teachers Los Angeles-owned building at 3303 Wilshire Blvd. in Koreatown.

Kidder Mathews’ Linda Lee, Bill Boyd and Scott Unger represented the Onni Group, while Cresa’s Dennis Smith represented the tenant.

“The election of the Lanterman Regional Center to relocate its Mid-Wilshire office space to the 611 North Brand building is not only a great validation of the appeal of the Glendale amenities, but also the building’s unequaled freeway access and tenant amenities,” Lee said.

One of the largest and most recognizable office buildings in Glendale, 611 N. Brand sits at the entrance to the city’s business district off the 134 freeway. The property offers some of the biggest floor plates on the market, along with standout amenities, such as a dedicated tenant lounge and Glendale’s largest office building athletic facility exclusively for tenants.

The building is also home to WeWork, which occupies two floors that the coworking company has identified as one of its most successful and profitable locations.

In recent months, several nonprofits have expanded their footprints across southern California: Amanecer Community Counseling Services, a mental health provider, signed a new 29,227-square-foot headquarters lease in downtown Los Angeles in June, growing its space by roughly 1,700 square feet. That same week, the Regional Center of Orange County completed a significant renewal and expansion deal for 102,631 square feet at Greenlaw Partners’ Tustin Centre complex in Santa Ana, Calif.

D23 Members are invited to join us for a spooktacular evening at D23’s Halloween Boo-nanza event, to be held at Disney’s Grand Central Creative Campus in Glendale, CA! This special event will feature a 2-part Spotlight Series presentation, plus activities to welcome the Halloween season!

Join our frightfully factual friends at the Walt Disney Archives for an eerie exploration of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949) that is sure to keep you up at night. Attendees and any aspiring Queen of Hearts will also delight at a “Heads Will Roll” display of creatures, busts, and prosthetics from fan-favorite franchises. Where else but D23 can you make eye contact (at eye level) with these creepy crania?

Then, enjoy a discussion from Walt Disney Imagineering on “Illusioneering”, aka your front-row seat to unpacking the (visual) tricks of the trade. Learn about how these techniques take center stage within attractions like the Haunted Mansion and more— you’ll have to see it to believe it!

For more Halloween-helmed fun, get ready for trick-or-treating candy stations, complimentary bites & treats (while supplies last), a DJ spinning terrifyingly good tunes, photo ops, plus carnival-style games and activities! Finally, show up in costume* to leave us truly deceased whilst you eat. Spooktacular surprises abound as we invite you to join us for some sure-fire fall-themed fun!

This event includes:

Join us for one of two event itineraries for the D23 Halloween Boo-nanza. The party is open to all from 5:30pm-8:30pm with two presentation options. Click your preferred itinerary below to be brought directly to the ticketing page:

Saturday, October 4, 2025

We hope you join us for this event as we shine a light into the shadows for a spookily bone-chilling Boo-nanza!

DETAILS

D23 is teaming up with partners across The Walt Disney Company, including the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Imagineering in 2025, for the new D23 Spotlight Series. These in-person events will take fans deeper into unique topics such as a celebration of the Walt Disney Archives’ 55th anniversary, a look into Indiana Jones attractions at Disney Parks both past, present, and future, along with more topics throughout the year!

NOTES

Ticketing Terms and Conditions:

Age Requirements:

Entry Requirements:

Event Conduct and Restrictions:

*Costume Rules:

Event Notes:

Any ticketed Members or their guests who do not personally attend the event forfeit their place, as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event. D23 Members must be present or guests will not gain admittance to the event.

All D23 events are subject to change without notice. All ticket sales are final. There are strictly no cancellations or refunds regardless of reason (including, without limitation, due to illness, change in travel plans, etc.) and tickets are not transferable.

PLEASE BE ADVISED – Permission to Film/Photograph/Record: Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. (“Disney”), and its affiliates, vendors, contractors, agents and/or assigns (together, “Producer”), may be taking photos, filming and/or making other recordings during the event you will be attending. By entering the premises for the event, for yourself and on behalf of any children accompanying you, you: (i) irrevocably consent to and authorize Producer to photograph you, make audio and/or video recordings of you in whatever medium, and use such photographs and recordings for all purposes (including advertising and promotions) in all media, now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity, and in any language without notice, attribution, permission or payment; and (ii) acknowledge all such photographs and/or recordings will be the sole property of Disney.

GLENDALE, CA — On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Glendale Verdugo Viejo station carrier Victor Castaneda was awarded the Postmaster General Hero Award in a special ceremony surrounded by colleagues, U.S. Postal Service managers and a customer who can now call her neighborhood carrier ‘Hero’.

The Postmaster General Hero Award is presented to those who perform a heroic act above and beyond the call of duty while on the job.

Castaneda also received recognition from the City of Glendale in the form of a Mayor’s Commendation Certificate.

On February 3, 2025, Glendale Verdugo Viejo Letter Carrier Victor Castaneda was making his usual deliveries when he noticed smoke rising from a rooftop on East California Avenue.

As Castaneda observed, the smoke thickened, and flames started to engulf the century-old duplex.

Trusting his instincts, Castaneda rushed toward the burning house. Acting selflessly, he sprang into action, grabbing a neighbor’s garden hose to combat the blaze when the occupant, Anita Siraki, and a distressed roofing crew were unable to contain it.

The flames quickly spread across the roof, with smoke visible from blocks away.

Firefighters arrived at a chaotic scene, but Castaneda’s quick actions may have helped them stop the fire from jumping to a nearby apartment building.

Though Siraki’s home was destroyed, the adjacent structure was saved. She later called the Glendale post office to thank Castaneda for risking his safety.

“In that terrifying moment, when most would have turned away, Victor turned toward the danger-not for recognition, but simply because he cared about the people he serves every single day,” said Siraki. “Victor didn’t just deliver our mail. He delivered safety, courage and humanity. I will always be grateful, and I know our community is better because of him.”

“As the Postmaster of this city is an honor to recognize the selfless actions Victor took to protect his customers and his community in this time of emergency,” said Glendale Postmaster Prince Vann IV.

“Not all heroes wear capes; our hero stands proud in blue. Employees like Victor are a prime embodiment of that endearing commitment to service.”

As for Victor, he states taking time to appreciate what’s happening around you can change the course of your whole day, and heroic actions like this was simply “all in a day’s work.”

The U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Heroes’ Program was created in 2003 to commend USPS employees who go above and beyond the call of duty in a variety of situations, such as assisting lost children, getting help for sick or injured customers, spotting fires, and more.

Over 5,500 individuals, known as PMG heroes, have been recognized through the program, which reflects a simple, yet powerful, idea: Because they know the habits of their customers and the rhythms of their communities, Postal Service employees are often the first to notify emergency personnel and render aid when something is wrong.

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, , to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the . Follow us on , formerly known as Twitter; ; ; ; and . Subscribe to the . For more information about the Postal Service, visit and .