Glendale residents have until Tuesday to return their ballots in a special election that could shape the future of a $1.2 billion resort project. The project has drawn both excitement — and concern.
The passage of Propositions 401 and 402 would mean construction could move forward on VAI Resort. Supporters say the resort could generate more than 2,000 jobs and $2.2 billion in tax revenue.
“I hope Glendale residents, and I believe that they are, smart enough to understand that this was a 7-0 vote by the council; you know, they’ve entrusted us to make these decisions," Glendale Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff said.
But critics, including the advocacy group Worker Power, say the deal favors corporate interests over neighborhood needs.
One major point of contention is the rezoning of a 10-acre parcel for VAI’s corporate offices and parking. Some residents thought it was promised as park space, but Tolmachoff said that was never in the cards.
“It was never planned to be a park. The CIP covers 10 years of planning, and it’s not in there, because it was just how the land was zoned," she said. "It doesn’t mean that’s what it was ever going to be.”
If voters reject the propositions, Tolmachoff says the resort’s opening could be delayed by several months. The resort says it expects to fully open in spring 2026.
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Plans have been scrapped for a 2025 opening of the massive resort and theme park project under construction next to the stadium in Glendale. And critics have questioned the likelihood it will ever open.
