Preface…………………………………………………………………………..1

Introduction………………………………………………………………………2

Part I, "The City of People, Pride and Progress."………………………..…..4

Burbank vs. Seventh District……………………………………………7

Demographic Analyses of the City of Burbank……………..…………8

Part II, "The City of Poor, Pity and Perplex"…………………………………11

Burbank Airport Battles for the Expansion…………………………..11

Old vs. New Police/Fire Headquarters ……………………………...12

The Relocation Blues…………………………………………………..13

An Unequal Distribution of Grants and Funds…………,,………….14

The Gaps between the Zones of the City of Burbank,…………….15

The Controversy in the Armenian Church Reconstruction,……….19

Epilogue………………………………………………………………………..22

Appendices 1, 2, 3

Bibliography

In southwestern California in Los Angeles County, City of Burbank, located twelve miles from the downtown Los Angeles and north of Hollywood, is the place of my current residence. Because of my attachment to the community, and by encountering current numerous controversial issues, I decided to present two distinct profiles of the City of Burbank. The profile, on which the city is proud of, reflects the city’s logo such is: "The City of People, Pride and Progress", and only introduces the positive aspects of the community. But by further investigation, observation, study of literature, this profile suddenly changes and may be seen as: "The City of Poor, Pity and Perplex", while uncovering its negative, often hidden, neglected, paradoxical and controversial side.

A few different types of methodology were used in order to collect the data and information for this project. A primary source of facts, such were the observations of the community and the neighborhood and the interviews, served a large portion in this publication. Since the observations needed factual figures to support the findings about the city’s profile, a numerous secondary sources also played an important role to collect an evidence, such was the 1996 census information from the archives of the City Hall. The City Hall also provided the requested information on zoning, planning, redevelopment, city’s distribution of Federal Grant. The Burbank Public Library enabled to collect census facts divided by the Zip codes, city’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 1997/98, and historical facts. The regular Burbank’s newspaper "Burbank Leader", and its Wednesday and weekend issues, revealing both sides of the hottest current controversies, also supported and directed the focus into the targeted areas of the need of this examined community.

The seal of the city in the eastern part of the San Fernando Valley, the City of Burbank, represents three main aspects characterizing its positive profile. The City Hall building, in the center, symbolizing the powerful structural force supported on the sides with the symbols of the aviation and the movie industry, which both bring the highest revenues to the city and therefore permit its progress and growth in population and of newly created jobs. But the fertile soils of the San Fernando Valley surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountains from the East, and stretched beneath the Angeles National Forest with the plenty of sunshine, not only grow crops but are land on which also poor dwellers fight for their lives. This brief introduction shall serve as an overview of the targeted problems of the Burbank’s community, and as a guide through the proud, as well as, the perplexed issues of this town.

The Part I, dedicated to the affirmative aspects, The City of People, Pride and Progress, explains historical progress and causes of the today’s profile compares Burbank with the Seventh District. The analysis of the census Population and Housing Data of the City of Burbank, at first, introduces a global overview of the population distribution, family income, educational attainment, occupation orientation, transportation, the owner housing and the rental costs. Then the Acorn Consumer Data" examine the city by its Zip codes, and to the addition to previous facts it also investigates a consumer group distribution, residential spending potential indexes, and already shows the specific gaps between residential districts. These observations surprisingly uncover the underdeveloped areas, in a sense, that in all examples of spending habits, by using financial services, home improvements, entertainment and personal use, the area of 91502 not only below the California’s average, but even the national average.

These facts already lead to Part II, which evaluates the city by the overturned logo: "The City of Poor, Pity and Perplex." Here, another secondary sources of Capital Improvement Projects and CDBG Capital Projects, concerning the confirmed statements from the Burbank Leader, demonstrate the inequality in the distribution of the finances from the City of Burbank’s Proposed Budget and Federal Grants. In these cases, the focus is on the questionable necessity of the spending of nearly $30 million for the largest project of joined Police/Fire Headquarters, while their neighboring old buildings are empty and useless. So as the residents question the distribution of the finances for the elementary schools facilities, when some are yield over the majority. The issues about the expansion of the Burbank Airport also show the city’s insubstantial demand of the finances from FAA to decrease noise, while being backfired by the FAA, for not being effective and fast enough toward the completion to secure the private houses and four public schools.

The two of the current local problems are analyzed for better understanding of the divided opinions and contrary demands of the residents, as well as the long lasting ignorance and benevolence of the city’s official is seen. The division of the opinions is examined in the case of the reconstruction of the proposed Armenian Church Western Diocese. While on one side neighboring residents are negating the need for the expansion of such church, and fear the traffic congestion, the representatives of the church’s congregation are pushing for a large project in any possible way, and according to residents the church even overlapped already proposed plans. Currently, the most debated argument involves the forgotten 3.14-acre property on Hollywood Way. Here, the residents of the trailer park fight for the proper compensation by the owner, while being forced to relocate, so the three-story building can rise a block from the Valhalla Cemetery, southeast from the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport.

The real history of Burbank is connected with a New Hampshire dentist headed west with the thousands of Americans seeking new opportunities. Those were the times when men like Isaac Lankershim and Isaac Van Nuys were changing the face of San Fernando Valley. Another man, Dr. David Burbank, was active in Los Angeles area real estate when he purchased portions of both ranchos in 1867. Combined into a large ranch, where the sheep were raised, with built ranch house on what would later become the Warner Bros. back lot, he later occasionally sold off small plots of land. Realizing that bringing in the railroad would increase the value of the ranch, Dr. Burbank sold the Southern Pacific Railroad a stretch of right-of-way for one dollar. As a result the first train passed through Burbank according to the History of Burbank at 1874.

During the rate war between the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads, low fares brought people streaming into California and DR. Burbank once more seized the opportunity. In 1886, he sold his property to a group land speculators for $250,000 and the Providencia Land, Water and Development Company was formed. The speculators laid out a business district, started construction on a brick block building which still stands on the corner of San Fernando Blvd. And Olive Avenue, and subdivided the property into small farms and residential lots. The track was opened for sale on May 1, 1887, and the town of Burbank was born.

The population of the town was five hundred when voters approved incorporation in 1911. That same year, civic boosters began a campaign to have the Pacific Electric Streetcar line extended from Glendale to Burbank, and the citizens had to put $48,000 subsidy to get the reluctant officials to agree. The town continued to grow the following years, when it marked progress in Burbank’s development as a city. In 1917, civic leaders Ralph O. Church and Maurice Spazier convinced Watt Moreland to relocate his truck company by offering a free site to build. The $25,000 cost was raised to buy the Luttge farm at San Fernando Road and Alameda Avenue and the Moreland Truck Company became the first major industry, traveling the highways bearing the label ‘Made in Burbank’.

The decade of twenties saw a period of growth and real estate development with the population increasing from over 2,900 in 1920 to over 16,600 in 1930. Earl L. White, by knowing the value of a connecting link from Burbank to Cahuenga Pass, he built Barham Boulevard and Hollywood Way and developed Magnolia Park area where by 1929, more than 3,500 homes had been built. The first shopping center, a bank, first radio station KELW, and Magnolia’s Park’s own newspaper, The Tribune, marked this period.

Burbank’s continued growth was tied in to aviation and entertainment. Both industries came to Burbank because of its location and the available space. Aviation in the mid1920’s was still in its infancy when Lockheed Aircraft Company purchased a piece of Burbank farmland, and built a plant for production of its airplanes. By the time United States entered World War II, Lockheed had some 94,000 employees producing 19,000 planes. Burbank’s prominence in the aviation field was evident during the War when Lockheed’s Burbank-built planes helped win the Battle of Britain. The wartime effort of the aviation industry has pushed Burbank’s population close to 54,000 in 1943. In 1978, the airport was purchased from Lockheed through a tri-city authority. The newly named Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport is the largest privately owned municipal airport in the United States.

The motion picture business also moved to Burbank in the 1920s. First National Pictures brought up a 78-acre site on Olive Avenue. The company was soon taken over by another young company founded by four brothers by the name of Warner. On October 23, 1927, motion picture history was made when Warner Bros. released the first all-talking movie, The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson. Other companies soon followed suit. Columbia pictures purchased property in Burbank as a ranch facility, using it primarily for outdoor shooting. Walt Disney’s company, which had outgrown it’s Hollywood quarters, bought fifty one acres in Burbank and its million dollar studio was completed in 1939 on Buena Vista Street.

The changing face of the city and Burbank’s boom did not end with the war. A postwar real estate boom left few undeveloped areas in the community. A ten-year capital improvement program produced many new municipal facilities, most of which were completed when the City celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 1961. During the 1960s and 1970s, more and more of the Hollywood industry were relocating to Burbank. The National Broadcasting Company moved its network television headquarters to its new location at Olive and Alameda avenues. By 1963, NBC’s multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art complex was completed.

Burbank looks to the future with the same ‘can do’ attitude of the early city pioneers. With the energy crisis of the 70s and the drought conditions of the 80s and 90s, Burbank quickly responded with conservation programs to deal with the environmental issues. The city has vigorous recycling program, making use or reclaimed water for landscape irrigation. In these last years of the 20^th century, Burbank continues to see changes. The Golden Mall was reopened and traffic again flows down the San Fernando Boulevard after twenty years as an outdoor pedestrian mall. After years of effort, the town finally obtained a major retail shopping center on a 41-acre site bounded by the Golden State Freeway, Burbank Boulevard, Third Street, and Magnolia Boulevard. The downtown are has been revitalized with a wide variety of restaurants and multi-screen AMC movie theatres.

The City Council began cable-casting their meetings on public television. The use of public access television has expanded citizens’ participation with government by bringing televised Board meetings and special programming directly into homes via cable. Even nine students profiling Burbank for USC news-writing class detailed the city as a model community — a "big small town" accustomed to change and excellent for raising a family.

Los Angeles’ Seventh District, the area of North Hollywood, or neighboring community of City of Burbank, is one of the fastest growing Latino communities in the San Fernando Valley. Will this fact have an impact, and how it will affect Burbank’s appearance and ranking in the near future? Some of the evidence is obvious on the first look, while observing the change of the look of the Vanowen while coming from the Burbank side and crossing the Los Angeles District lines. While in Burbank, the private houses and large corporations such as Agfa Headquarters and the sci-fi appearance of Fry’s Electronic Superstore are aligned around the street a different outlook awaits after the LA sign is crossed. Here, large businesses change into liquor stores, cheap corner gas stations and car wash palaces. Polished windows are here trapped behind dirt and metal bars. Billboards absent or scarce in fancier Burbank become denser and promote night entertainment, often in Spanish and ripped. Property houses in Burbank switch to low cost apartment buildings right after the Vineland and Vanowen intersection.

Even current USC student, Kim Anderson, also a resident of North Hollywood, stated: "My city and Burbank are worlds apart. In Burbank, people seem to be very compassionate toward each other, like always waving hallo. It’s a whole different world over there." Certainly, this home to almost a 100,000 residents, and three major entertainment industries, proud school district containing three senior high schools and adult schools; three middle schools; twelve elementary schools; special education and parochial schools, may seem like "everybody seems to know each other" as Kim Anderson recalled.

The city today covers an area of 17.2 square miles with a population density of 5,600 persons per square mile. According to City of Burbank, Population and Housing Data from January 1, 1996, the population represents 101,424 inhabitants with the largest group above 18,000 of residents aged between 25 to 34. Considering the overall population and the unemployment rate of 7.2%, the approximate amount of unemployed residents should represent close to 7,200 persons. But by deducting the children under the age of 16, residents over the age of 60 as retired, and the total labor force of 51,201, the remaining amount would make slightly over 16,000 of lost workforce in the mid-age category. There is approximately 9,000 person gap, which perhaps represents either housemaids, handicapped or unreported. Since the rate of high school graduates is relatively high (79.7%), 14% more than North Hollywood’s, and a college graduate rate of 22.9%, the correlative per capita income is $18,897, which is slightly over 2.5 times the California average.

The streets of Burbank in the residential zones are filled with properties and houses with a median value of 260,200 and are divided into blocks by streets newly equiped with bumps in order to slow or annoy motorists. The rest of the main streets with signals are targets for easy tickets written by of police officers on duty, in order to collect funds for speeding in 25 mph residential or school zones of already bumped-out drivers. The majority of families (40.1%) are left with one car, other 36.9% have two cars, 11% owns three vehicles, while 4.7% drives four or five automobiles. Still 7.3% of occupied housing units are without the car transportation leading to an average 1.68 mean vehicle per Burbank’s family. The mean travel time to work averaging in 22 minutes confirms that even though the majority of the employees (more than 2/3) work away from Burbank, they tend to work in surrounding cities such is Glendale, Studio City or Toluca Lake.

The occupation categories of Burbank’s residents decrease from the highest number being employed in administrative support and clerical making of total 10,578 employed. Slightly lower are the two categories of executive and managerial (8,046) or professional specialty (7,739) and the third category of the employees (6,002) cover sales and a fewer (5,171) are occupied in the crafts and repair precision production.

Within the boundaries of a Zip Code the census gathers many characterized features such as population’s median income, home value or a value of the rental units, education, profession, and interests. Therefore even the Zip Codes of the City of Burbank differ in all of these categories, while being studied, researched and accounted annually or in the census, and target four main residential groups. Following the decreasing of living standards from highest to the lowest there are wealthy seaboard residents in 91504, followed by the urban professionals in 91505 and 91506, and high rise renters in 91501 with enterprising young singles in 91502 with similar characteristics. (Appendix 1) These wealthy seaboard middle aged professionals, most likely at their peak of their lifetime earnings, bring home median incomes of $60,000 and over 35% of them earn 75,000 and more. The values of the owner-occupied homes are therefore the highest in all categories and their homes valued over $250,000 five times the national average. The population is well-educated and over 40% of adults earned a college degree and hold managerial or professional positions.

Comparing these wealthy residents with the next category, urban professionals, belonging to an upscale household group, it is visible how the income decreases by 40% to $42,600. The urban residential profile also changes into owner occupied single-family homes and townhouses with smaller rentals. The home value decreases by 100,000 and more but is still $148,500, above the national average, so as condominiums (twice the average). The amount of college graduate decreases by 5% into 35% and more.

The third category of up and coming singles is slowly catching up with the two previous groups, while both the high rise renters and enterprising singles are ranked together at the same level. The major difference is that the families are replaced with singles in this case, where the houses do not prevail and rental units are taking over. The median income is slightly below the urban professionals’, between $42,200 and $38,300. Since they are mostly renters the average rent is $730 a month which is close to Burbank’s median overall rent of $677 a month. This group of renters is likely to replace or to move to higher rank shortly, since more than half of the population holds bachelor’s or graduate degrees and professional and managerial position. Another important fact is that these residents are singles, with the highest rate of female labor force, while wealthy suburbans were families with their median mortgage payments of $1,130. More than half of the Burbank’s population are renters, the majority (5,800) paying $750-$999 and more, while the lowest rents typically paid in cash, range from from $0-$149 for only 330 residents cover citizens with the HUD assistance, Section 8. The increase Burbank’s population is linked with the increase of building permits for housing units, so population of 10.7% pushed the percentage change in housing units 15.6% up.

The northwest area of the City of Burbank, or Burbank Airport, owned and operated by an independent authority overseen by Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, belongs to Southern0 California’s most popular regional airports. The three cities share the benefits of its operations, but the brunt of the noise and traffic falls on Burbank only. So when the plans to replace the terminal with a larger facility came up, Burbank officials and citizens raised concerns that the project would bring more jets, more passengers, thus more noise and street traffic. Airport administrators considered those concerns but proclaimed that they were powerless to impose the kinds of flight restrictions and curfews Burbank wanted. This dispute landed in court, where it has remain grounded for years.

The expansion of the Airport and hidden facts of Burbank helped the city to receive 85 million dollars in Federal Grants and being the only facility among fourteen airports in six states to receive a special treatment in order to soundproof fifty-five homes and regions. Eighty percent of this sum, as a part of ten year 110 million program to insulate 2,300 homes and four schools, has already been used to repair three schools and nine homes. Adequately, the contractor Caltrans responds that City of Burbank does not use money to insulate homes quickly enough, and spends too much, since almost all the homes are left unrepaired as is one more school. Caltrans argues that Burbank’s airport is one of the quietest in the state. The size of the noise impact area declined from 4,463 to 3,928 residents from 1994 to 1997, and the City’s prolonged litigation already cost taxpayers $7.5 million. A resident is left to wonder not only where the taxes are going, but the result of finances already received for this purpose as well.

The distribution of the City of Burbank’s budget for the period of past five years proofs a considerable yield to some specific projects. Considering the largest 25 million dollar project of a construction of new Police and Fire Headquarters on 311 Orange Grow, city must be proud of its overwhelming building, but residents are left with questions regarding the use of the old headquarters only a block away. (Appendix 2) Not taking away the ability of 150 full time police officers’ keeping a low crime rate of 50.6 per 10,000, or 1.5 violent crimes a day, Burbank’s dwellers may wonder if these funds were properly used, rather than solving the problems in lower-income zip code areas like 91502. The high property crime rate of 432.9 though confirms the need of a strong police force, but the shine of Burbank’s incorporated officers is dimmed by the only slightly higher rate in areas like Compton. The City of Compton, with 55.1% black population and twice as low household income and property values, fewer officers, lower high school graduation rate.

The other hidden face of Burbank may be seen not only in the railroad zone by the freeway known as a gang-infested neighborhood of rundown apartments, but in the heart of the city’s residential area of Hollywood Way. Here, on 3.14 acres of 2240 N. Hollywood Way 116 residents fight their last battles to keep their trailer court of 43 mobile homes. Now rusty and dark, but once perhaps a glamorous announcement, "Hollywood Trailer Court = Individual Baths & Storage," crowns the home of the poorest residents of the city. This area finally gained the city’s attention recently, when former owner Scott Shaffer announced plans to close and erect a three-story office building. That plan, has publicly acknowledged for the first time, and showed a lifestyle and living standards that most residents would not believe exist in Burbank’s city limits. Arranged in five rows, just a few steps off Hollywood Way, where some demolished structures sit with broken windows, unlocked, serving as homes surrounded by trash and hazardously exposed electrical wires and uncapped sewer pipes with rent from $270 to $400. Even though the owner promises to fix the problems and provide the minimum amount of at least $500 per unit for relocation, he is caught between the dwellers and the city’s long time ignorance. A few that are meticulously painted and kept in good condition with small gardens in front, and are proof what some have accomplished with so little. It will be one tragedy to evict residents from ramshackle pits of filth and another to force them out of inadequate homes they’ve cared for with pride.

The dwellers are now fighting for at least increased relocation fees, since the amount of $500 will more likely not give them a good head start for their new life elsewhere. "Where is justice? Where is the law?" are question a resident Pedro Palma asks, when being notified and offered between $3,000 to $6,000 for the value of theit motor homes, and after the negotiations increased to $6,000-$7,500, many of which were purchased only a few years ago for $10,000 to $15,000. To repair the poor conditions have sixty days notice to be by the owner, while the 23 remaining homes until the November to move out.

In neither case, as the Burbank Leader columnist Will Roger states, "The truth is that Burbank cannot provide a new place to live for what these residents have been paying." Knowing that every tax dollar paid and used for such purposes would automatically be excluded from other important projects of the City of Burbank, the City Council and other involved officials seem to be stuck. But only a negative answer can follow Will Roger’s question, "Can the City hand out money to everyone who could put it to good use?"

Following the previous sour reality of the financial distribution City Council awards some public agencies and capital programs the amount or at least some part of what they requested, while leaving others empty handed. Information of such kind caused disturbance for many residents, or directors of agencies who did not fulfill the prerequisites of being so-called essential to community, as official announced in April 18, 1998 Burbank Leader. Formerly asked $3.7 million for thirty-two requested grants, was provided by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development in a lump sum of $1.6 million. And City did not provide each agency with equal amount comparing to their requests, but rather awarded and preferred some than the others. As Mayor Bob Kramer stated: "There are more, worthy projects and organizations, but … we do not have enough money to help everyone." It seems to be awkward to yield favoritism over the equality, doesn’t it?

Among the chosen ones City of Burbank accounts Fair Housing Council, Parks and Recreation Department for Youth and Management Service Department’s Disabled Job Training. The Burbank Unified School District received only 85,000 out of requested 600,000 for school improvements, playground for Edison Elementary, leaving four Elementary schools without any funding at all. (Appendix 3) The Family Service Agency on behalf of not receiving what they’ve asked for, responded by comment of J. Downing: " It’s all how you cut the pie. We’ll cut out loses and move on", as agencies executive director for services to elderly stated. Optimistic, especially when the agency received almost 30% of the requested sum, but how would the comments of the left out agency director’s sound like? Can they move on at all?

The ZIP (Zoning Improvement Plan) Code System shifted its original purpose into the directions of much broader and influential focus, such as socioeconomic, or political profile of the community. This system was devised to speed mail deliveries, which the post office assigned to individual areas and places. At present, the areas change their supposed geometrical parameters, arrangement of the chronological five digit numbers and the concern about the fast mail delivery falls to the bottom of the long chart of prior functions. Now, Zip codes serve purpose for the statistics and research of the population change, its composition, income, spending and consumer type.

Burbank’s five main Zip codes of 91501, 91502, 91504, 91505, 91506 are assigned to majority of its area. There are Zip codes like 91507, 91508 or 91510 that do not appear on regular maps and those are assigned to total of 45 firms with no more than 140 employees total with engineering and accounting or home furniture businesses. Or there have been three Zip codes assigned to major areas for amusement or motion picture businesses. Zip of 91523 covers NBC Studios, or 91522 for TBS/Warner Bros., and 91521 for Disney Studios, are excluded from the available maps employing close to 16,000 employees in the 37 firms.

Table 1.

91501 High Rise Renters 26.6

91502 Enterprising Young Singles 39.6

91504 Wealthy Seaboard Suburbs 34.4

91505 Urban Professional Couples 40.0

91506 Urban Professional Couples 32.8

Table 1. vividly demonstrates the difference of the population distribution concerning the socioeconomic and demographics changes from the top first categories of wealthy suburbs to the third category rating for high rise renters and enterprising young singles. Among the top first category of wealthy suburbs are accounted married residents, middle-aged professionals, with no younger children at the peak of their lifetime earnings. The median age is close to 39 years and the proportion of householders between ages of 45 and 64 is 40% higher than a national average with the incomes $60,000 or more. This area is comprised of single family owned homes, where average value of homes doubles the national standards. Homeowners tend to travel, enjoy fitness, expensive sports, are users of vitamins, financially contribute to health organizations usually results from good employment and education.

In comparison with the third rated enterprising young singles with the median age of annual income is significantly lower averaging about $38,300. Education is also high, where one third has a four-year college degree, but most of the population is renters of newer apartment complexes and own small economic cars. Their leisure activities include inexpensive sports, and entertainment, and are more likely to have educational loans. The population is young with a median age of 32.5 and more than a half of the households is under the age of 35.

Table 2. Population Composition

RACE ( % )

1990 1997 1990 1997 1990 1997 1990 1997

91501 81.3 75.6 2.1 2.3 8.3 10.6 20.7 28.7

91504 80.0 74.6 1.8 1.9 8.7 11.1 23.4 30.6

91506 83.5 78.4 1.4 1.6 6.4 8.1 22.6 30.9

The statistics and the factual information according to The Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics state the gradual growth of population in the City of Burbank. But Table 2 confirms a decline of white population by 5% and a relative stability of the black population. On the rise are Asian/Pacific families and households with their 1.5% incline and the highest margin of almost a 9% increase were marked for Hispanic residents. Highlighted are two Zip Codes of 91502 and 91505 that represent bipolar areas and are supported by the distribution of the population, household income and therefore it confirms the results of the consumer type from the Table1. The 91502 with its majority of enterprising young singles, the third least rated category, besides of having the highest rate of black and Hispanic population from all other Zip Codes, also possess least amount of white residents. In comparison 91505, as of occupying the prominent category in accommodating urban professional couples with the majority of whites, and the least percentages of blacks and Hispanic residents. And the Table 3 only reaffirms previous statements of the differences between the household distribution in 91502 and 91505, where in 91502 household income base is three times lower than in 91505.

Table 3. Household Income Distribution

Zip Code 1997 Per 1997 HH Income Median Household 1997 Average Capita Income Base Income 1997 Disposable Income

91501 21958 7261 41025 37936

91504 23339 8682 45314 45360

91505 24204 12803 42683 40322

91506 21918 7609 43553 40110

Table 3 presents City of Burbank in a view that seem not to be considered about the citizens residing in the Zip of 91502, mapped mainly as the railroad zone by the Interstate 5, or how can be explained constant under ratings in the household income or income per capita. In all categories, the figures are below the state, as well as, the national standards and statistical predictions only confirm, that even increase in the income will not bring residential income above the national levels by the year 2002.

The area of 91502 is also marked below the California Spending Potential Indexes in the terms of use of financial services, home improvements, entertainment and personal use, while in 91505 or 91504 there is space for excess being above the California average as Table 4 shows. Since the US standards are kept on 100 level, there is only one area for 91502, which is above the national average in the area of home loans, as one of the prior necessities preceding further expenses. On the other hand, this area, between the Interstate 5 and Victory Boulevard and Burbank Boulevard from the north and Riverside Drive from the South, consists of mainly rental units or low-income housing and car shops. This Zone Improvement Plan of 91502 is below the national average in all categories, especially in the area of investments, retirement plans. While 91504 or 91505 are highly above the national and California standards in all presented areas and showing highest probability of spending for the home loans, investments, retirement plans and travel as Table 4 promotes.

Table 4. Spending Potential Indexes

Loan Loan ments Plans Improvements Concerts

91501 100 122 111 108 108 101 111 108 114 110

91504 103 131 124 120 115 104 119 118 124 119

91506 101 124 112 108 106 102 112 108 112 110

One of the major recent problems is the construction of the Armenian Church on 3325 N. Glenoaks Boulevard. Some residence, apparently except Armenian community and some city officials are opposing the construction of the 85 feet tower above already the massive building for 630 seats. Concerns are targeted toward the limited spaces with parking, since only 177 space parking lot will be available for the four times the seating in the church, as well as the interrupted views from homes by such high tower, traffic congestion, as Naomi Street resident argued. Other argument against this plan states that the church itself will not create revenues for the city. But as the population shift’s table shows, the increase in certain groups, ultimately pushed away others. For example, Hispanic population expanding in neighboring North Hollywood and Sun Valley naturally brings more residents of its kind to Burbank, so as increasing Armenian population in Glendale will be pushing toward the eastern side of Burbank’s borders, where the construction of the church is taking place.

Some citizens question the comments of Councilmen McConkey, who informed public that the height code was outdated. As well as they wonder, why previously 35 ft. allowance is not in the effect any longer, all of a sudden? The supporters argue that the height is within the norms, will not be disruptive, since it will be still lower than the freeway signs. This seem like a weak evidence, especially when highways are build above the city grounds and therefore their signs will be even placed higher than some of the surrounding buildings. But the facts, are that the church’s location is right by the Golden State Freeway. Therefore the comparison to the height, and while observing the site it is hard to imagine that such isolated building, across Woodbury University and a block away from Naomi Street, would be disruptive or cause traffic jams, due to lack of parking.

The more evident and sensitive problem arrives from the cultural conflict and preferences, whereto non-Armenian residents would preferably not allow such a construction, but Armenian resident Armen Tazmarian calls these hidden fears as "products of ignorance and xenophobia". He presented and historical role and importance of this Christian religion and Armenian Apostolic church, but still his words seem strong and too patriotic especially when the construction has been approved, but concerns are only about the expansion. Why would city officials fear strangers coming into their environment when they follow the requests of the Armenian Church’s officials?

But the statement followed by only confirms Mr. Tamzarian’s explanation about the fear of the incoming strangers, where Bill and Beverly Waldmann of Burbank proclaimed: "There is nothing to discuss! The property involved is too small for such massive and grandiose project". And closed their comments with the unsupported apprehension speaking in the names of all other residents: "Our residential neighborhood does not want to become a parking lot." On the other hand a comment from a Burbank’s resident and local newspaper correspondent Bridgette Norman, that Armenian Church was "sneaky about securing city’s approval by starting small", urges for the reaction of all local residents of who decides for what in the city and how is powerless.

Today Burbank is a prominent media and entertainment oriented city which prides itself on the quality of life, combining 21^st century technology with a small-town feel. It is self-contained, with a city government structure that is manageable, with school district, police and fire department that are internal, and an airport bringing the highest revenues for the town. In many cases, it appeared as "The City of People, Pride and Progress." Controversy though brews in Burbank when a billboard that shows too much flesh crosses into the city’s air space, when parking runs short downtown. Or when city’s official powerless ignorance forces residents to live in hazardous conditions, or forces them to leave the community, or the preference of certain projects and businesses are yielded finances, while others are left empty handed.

Burbank’s proclaimed independence in their police, fire and water departments is cut short in the school districts, where they are highly dependent to send their students to state colleges behind the city lines. Or when city faces the issues such is the Armenian church construction and shows disturbed arguments and rather cultural conflict from divided residents than concerns about the parking spaces in such isolated site. Also, when the facts show the fertile soils dimmed by the bad air quality, which ranks below standards in carbon monoxide and ozone, the residents can only calculate the positive sides and evaluate them with all of the perplex and bias around them. The hopes for diminishing some of these negative issues, involving the resident’s participation, the City Council engagement, public corporations, and private businesses, as well as, the new approach of the freshly elected 64^th City Mayor Dave Golonski, sit up high for even getting rid of this more and more prevalent logo: "The City of Poor, Pity and Perplex".

Appendix 1

Group 1: Affluent Families Group 8: Downtown Residents

1A Top One Percent 8A Urban Hispanics

1B Wealthy Seaboard Suburbs 8B Social Security Dependents

1C Upper Income Empty Nesters 8C Distressed Neighborhoods

1D Successful Suburbanites 8D Low Income Southern Blacks

1E Prosperous Baby-boomers 8E Urban Working Families

1F Semi-rural Lifestyle

Group 9: Nonresidential Neighborhoods

Group 2: Upscale Households 9A Business District

2A Urban Professional Couples 9B Institutional Population

2B Baby-boomers with Children 9C Unpopulated Areas

2C Thriving Immigrants

2D Upscale Urban Asians

2E Older Settled Married Couples

Group 3: Up & Coming Singles

3A High Rise Renters

3B Enterprising Young Singles

Group 4: Retirement Style

4A Retirement Communities

4B Active Senior Singles

4C Prosperous Older Couples

4D Wealthiest Seniors

4E Rural Resort Dwellers

4F Senior Sun Seekers

Group 5: Mobile Young Adults

5A Twenty-somethings

5B College Campuses

5C Military Proximity

Group 6: City Dwellers

6A East Coast Immigrants

6B Middle Class Black Families

6C Newly Formed Households

6D Settled Southwest Hispanics

6E West Coast immigrants

6F Low Income: Young & Old

Group 7: Factory & Farm Communities

7A Middle America

7B Young Frequent Movers

7C Rural Industrial Workers

7D Prairie Farmers

7E Small Town Working Families

7F Rustbelt Neighborhoods

7G Heartland Communities

Bibliography:

5. CDBG Capital Projects, Fiscal year 1997-98 and Fiscal year 1998-1999, Exhibit A

6. CDBG Public Service Projects, Fiscal year 1997-98 and Fiscal year 1998-1999, Exhibit B

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Photo materials available only in the original version