Developers in many U.S. cities have been trying to revive dying shopping centers and business districts by transforming them into mixed-use complexes, where residents can shop, live and entertain, all in one place.
But Glendale, California, has a 16-year head start on this type of development, while cities like chicago, Washington D.C. and dallas We’re still trying to catch up.
The luxurious Americana at Brand opened in 2008 and features hundreds of apartments, high-profile retail shops, restaurants, an AMC movie theater, sprawling gardens where families can picnic, and a fountain designed by the same people who created the from the Bellagio resort. in Las Vegas.
The community even has its own dedicated trolley system for getting around, and everything—the rooftop pools with cabanas, private party rooms, and a continental garden—is located in Glendale, an overcrowded city on the outskirts of even more congested Los Angeles. .
The 242 apartment units sit above dozens of stores, and a former resident tells us SF Gate she lives right above the Cheesecake Factory.
The exterior of Americana at the Brand shopping center in Glendale, California
An aerial view of the bustling mixed-use community. To the right is the Cheesecake Factory.
In the photo: the Americana cart that travels through the shopping district
Valentina Sahakian, 56, said her journey into American culture began after living in her Glendale home for 14 years.
By then, she missed apartment life, and when the mall opened, she and her family visited frequently, to the point that she began to consider purchasing a townhouse nearby.
Instead, he initially rented the apartment above the restaurant chain for six months, just to see if he liked it.
That was July 2012 and she’s been there ever since.
According to Americana websiteResidents have access to a variety of attractive amenities.
This includes 24-hour access to a private fitness center, concierge services, delivery to all mall restaurants, and free valet parking.
However, all this comes at a high price. Specifically, residents pay 30 percent more than market rate for rent in the area.
And the units don’t open very often due to high demand.
There are currently only seven apartments available. The cheapest you’ll find is a 734-square-foot studio on the top floor for $3,600 a month.
A two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, also on the top floor, will be available on November 13. Rent for the 1,084-square-foot space, balcony included, is set at $5,850 a month.
Pictured: The private rooftop pool for residents, complete with loungers and custom cabanas.
The apartments with balconies are located above the many shops.
A man looks at what could be said to be the centerpiece of the community: the fountain.
La Americana goes all out for Christmas and decorates the entire shopping area.
Sahakian told SFGate that he loves the convenience of his lifestyle, now that he can easily grab a glass of wine at any of the mall’s many restaurants or attend events like bingo or movie nights.
Her husband, 61, is a pilot and is often away for long periods of time, making living in a lively community with 24/7 security an added bonus for her.
He said the houses are excellent for his age group. Many of their friends are empty nesters and their children have recently moved away, leaving them alone in large houses.
Sahakian convinced her sister-in-law to move in American style after becoming widowed a few years ago, SFGate reports.
Caruso, the private luxury real estate company run by billionaire Rick Caruso, spent $400 million to create what some residents believe is “the future in a modern society.”
According to Caruso, at least 24 percent of American residents have lived there for more than five years. About 17 percent have been there for more than 10 years.
Sahakian said his family plans to stay there as long as possible.
Rick Caruso, photographed on April 11, 2008, stands atop the famous Americana Fountain and Cheesecake Factory. This was shortly after the $400 million complex was completed.
Residents appreciate how pedestrian-friendly America is and find that people are happy
Jores Grigorian, another resident, told SFGate that Americana is pedestrian-friendly, giving it a “European feel.”
Like Sahakian, he lived in a home in Glendale for decades before finally getting a taste of what the new luxury development had to offer.
He went to a friend’s party at an American apartment shortly after it opened and really liked the place.
Years later, he needed to move, so he checked back and was impressed again.
“I really believe there is a real reason why European communities are happy,” Grigorian said. “It’s because there are people who live very close to each other, possibly above a supermarket or shops.”
Grigorian, who is in his 50s, has lived there for eight years, one of the longest periods he has lived anywhere.
He, like others who live in the community, appreciates the fact that there are cameras everywhere and plenty of security.
Visitors gather to appreciate the water show at the fountain.
Live music is common in Americana, according to their website.
Grigorian said Rick Caruso successfully created “a family-oriented community full of normal people who want security and a sense of stability.”
“I wish someone like Rick Caruso could make one in every ZIP code,” he said. “If you just emulate and copy what he did with Americana, that’s the future in a modern society.”
Because of Americana’s success, Caruso CEO Corinne Verdery told SFGate that nearly all of the company’s future retail projects will include residential accommodations.
Caruso already operates other shopping centers in Southern California, including The Grove and the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort in Montecito.
Caruso has even introduced its own credit card-style rewards program that gives members back points for spending at Caruso properties, and that includes rent.
So-called ‘Caruso coins’ can get US residents a discount on a restaurant outing or can be saved over time to finance a luxurious stay at the Miramar resort.
