The Glendale City Council heard an update Oct. 14 on the preservation and reuse project at the former Rockhaven sanitarium, where Public Works staff say the city has mobilized a contractor to rehabilitate site access, restore historic landscape features and renovate the Pines Cottage building for future museum use.

Art Asatourian, senior project manager for Public Works, said council previously awarded full funding for the project’s three tiers and that construction work is on site. “The contractor has begun to remove all of the accessible pathways that are not accessible, and any vegetation that's in that area,” Asatourian said. He added that project staff and the architect are reviewing daily submittals for historically significant materials such as bricks, tiles and decorative metal railings and that hazardous‑materials abatement work at Pines Cottage is underway.

Project scope and schedule: the three tiers include (1) establishing ADA‑accessible pathways across the facility; (2) rehabilitating the landscape and irrigation while preserving historic landscape features; and (3) restoring and rehabilitating Pines Cottage for use as a museum. Asatourian said grading, foundations and retaining stone walls are scheduled for December–January; building rehabilitation by subcontractor Spectra is scheduled from January through April (structural retrofit, finishes and new mechanical/electrical/plumbing); and accessibility and landscaping work is expected in spring 2026, with final inspections and closeout planned for June 2026.

Asatourian said staff are taking care to protect historic materials during demolition and site prep and that all permits have been pulled. The presentation included the project timeline and a note that hazardous materials abatement is occurring where older building materials require it.

Public response: residents who spoke at the meeting largely supported preservation. Matthew Ganji said he has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and “support[s] any improvements that is happening at Rock Haven and any sort of thoughtful preservation and reuse of the facilities,” and several speakers voiced the project’s historic value and urged the council to preserve the site. Mike Mohill, a longtime resident, said he once opposed reuse but has changed his view after learning more about the site’s history and community value.

Discussion versus decision: council members did not take further formal action at the meeting; staff said the project is underway under an existing contract and will continue per the schedule provided.

Clarifying details: council previously awarded full funding for the three tiers; contractor has mobilized and begun demolition/site preparation with historic‑materials protections; hazardous‑materials abatement is in progress; project schedule targets final closeout in June 2026 with key building work by Spectra from January–April 2026.