Empire Avenue

Laura Sturza MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- After 10 years of discussion between the city and Caltrans, Burbank drivers are closer to getting a major reprieve in congestion from Empire Avenue to other parts of the city. It started with a simple idea. "Wouldn't it be great if we could join San Fernando Boulevard with Empire Avenue?," said Greg Herrmann, the city's assistant community development director for transportation. The plan has three parts, which will be discussed at a public meeting next week.

The following incidents were taken from reports filed at the Burbank Police Department: ? ?200 block of West Providencia Avenue: A 19-year-old woman reported being robbed Sunday, possibly at gun point. ?2000 block of Empire Avenue: A woman reported her purse stolen from a shopping cart in the parking lot of Lowe?s on Sunday. ?2800 block of North Glenoaks Boulevard: A window was reportedly smashed at a local business Sunday. Police found the cash register pried open, with about $300 missing.

Karen S. Kim MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Zelman Development Co. and five city officials will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the Burbank Empire Center. Mayor Bill Wiggins, council members Bob Kramer, David Laurell and Stacey Murphy, and City Manager Bud Ovrom, as well as Zelman representatives, will meet at 3 p.m. at the corner of Empire Avenue and Lincoln Street for the event. Construction crews already have begun preparing the land for development.

Area 1 2000 block of Empire Avenue Dawn Marie Prince, 45, of Sherman Oaks, was arrested Nov. 30 on suspicion of drug paraphernalia and an outstanding warrant. 400 block of North Ontario Street Burbank resident Merry Jane Clift, 41, was arrested Dec. 1 on suspicion of a misdemeanor drug offense. Victory Boulevard at Clybourn Avenue North Hollywood resident Bryan Huerta, 19, was arrested Dec. 1 on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines, violating basic speed law, an outstanding warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Area 1 Empire Avenue at Lincoln Street Ana Alicia Bustillos, 41, was arrested Dec. 18 on suspicion of burglary, petty theft, grand theft, outstanding warrants and driving with a suspended license. Empire Avenue at Lincoln Street Miguel Clay Camacho, 30, was arrested Dec. 18 on suspicion of burglary and possession of methamphetamines. 2900 block of San Fernando Road Christopher Joseph Hawk, 39, was arrested Dec. 19 on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Burbank Police believe road rage to be the probable cause of a shooting Wednesday near Empire Avenue and Victory Place, said Sgt. Tracy Sanchez. A set of drivers became involved in an on-road altercation around noon. The cars were in a brief chase, with the drivers of a gray sedan following a black Toyota Tundra. Then the driver of the truck heard shots and the sedan, holding two Latino men in their 20?s, described as ?gang types,? took off. No one was harmed in the shooting but the car was hit a few times, Sanchez said.

Three lanes added to Burbank Boulevard bridge; final phase of project to improve the intersection with Victory Boulevard.NORTHWEST DISTRICT -- Three new lanes on the Burbank Boulevard bridge are expected to open this week, signaling the near-completion of a five-year road improvement project. The north side of the bridge has been under construction since the spring to add a second left-turn lane, another through lane, and a new right-turn only lane. Railing and sidewalk work, however, still remains to be done on the south side of the bridge, requiring one lane to be closed in November and December, City Planner Greg Herrmann said.

The following reports were filed by officers at the Burbank Police Department: AREA 1 South Flower Street at West Verdugo Avenue Cynthia Glickman, 47, was arrested Jan. 14 on suspicion of possession of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia. North Hollywood Way at West Verdugo Avenue Marc Robert Perkins, 52, was arrested Jan. 14 on suspicion of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia. 500 block of North Hollywood Way Fredrek Yaghobi, 40, was arrested Jan. 15 on suspicion of illegally having ammunition and for allegedly being in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Area 1 2000 block of Empire Avenue Dawn Marie Prince, 45, of Sherman Oaks, was arrested Nov. 30 on suspicion of drug paraphernalia and an outstanding warrant. 400 block of North Ontario Street Burbank resident Merry Jane Clift, 41, was arrested Dec. 1 on suspicion of a misdemeanor drug offense. Victory Boulevard at Clybourn Avenue North Hollywood resident Bryan Huerta, 19, was arrested Dec. 1 on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines, violating basic speed law, an outstanding warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

WEST BURBANK — Residents should expect delays until early August as crews tear up a roughly one-mile section of Buena Vista Street, city officials warned this week. The construction, stretching from Jeffries Avenue to the alley south of San Fernando Boulevard, is in the final phase of the $824,000 project. The money — $600,000 from city redevelopment funds, the rest from state gasoline-tax revenue — was allocated to repair what is considered among the worst roads in Burbank.

The owner of the Burbank Athletic Club is suing to block the city from allowing a 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport center to open on Empire Avenue. David Bedrossian, along with longtime city critic Mike Nolan, filed the lawsuit last month claiming the May 18 approval of the 24 Hour Fitness in the 1900 block of Empire did not meet city codes. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court contends the city failed to comply with its own procedures and ignored potential parking problems related to the proposed gym. Burbank city spokesman Keith Sterling declined to comment on the litigation, but said city officials were "vigorously defending our position and the decision that was made."

CITY HALL — In a reversal of fortunes for 24 Hour Fitness, the City Council on Tuesday voted to rehear a revised proposal for a Super Sport club in the 1900 block of Empire Avenue. The 4-1 vote came after the council narrowly rejected the original proposal, reversing a decision by the Planning Board on the grounds that the club would have inadequate parking and negatively impact traffic. In an unusual move Tuesday, council members instructed 24 Hour Fitness to revise the project before the matter could be re-noticed and re-heard, rather than making them wait one year to resubmit plans.

The City Council’s narrow decision this week to block a 24 Hour Fitness from converting a warehouse on Empire Avenue into a gym may, on its surface, seem like a bad case of local protectionism, but a closer look reveals a different picture. For starters, several full-service gyms are already in this city of roughly 108,000 people, an unknown slice of whom actually go in for regular workouts. Given the economic conditions, gym workers haven’t exactly been working double shifts to accommodate an influx of new patrons.

BURBANK — The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority on Monday took the first step toward a possible $75-million regional transit center that would link the airport with passenger trains, shuttles, buses and taxi cabs. The authority voted 8-0 to channel $94,450 into an initial environmental review of the proposed regional transit center that would essentially create another hub for Amtrak and Metrolink. The project would run along Empire Avenue and connect with the Bob Hope Train Station platform.

BURBANK — Yahoo Inc. has begun laying off more than 1,500 workers around the world, including an undisclosed amount at its Burbank campus on Empire Avenue, the Internet giant announced Wednesday. The action follows Yahoo’s October promise to slash 10% of its global workforce to cut $400 million a year in costs as the company struggles against bleak earnings estimates and weak revenue figures. “We have begun to notify impacted employees,” spokesperson Brad Williams said.