Condos could be in the mix for former Montrose pool hall

A local developer wants to swap a long-shuttered pool hall in Montrose for a condominium project.

The same group that developed the Montrose Center that houses a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is looking to tear down the Mix at 2612 Honolulu Ave. to make way for ownership units.

“There are already enough apartments being built in Glendale, we don’t need more,” said Art Simonian, principal of development firm Metro Investments, in a phone interview.

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He said his plan — in its early stages — is to build a two-story condominium structure within walking distance of local schools and churches.

Simonian’s company bought the 21,030-square-foot lot for $2.3 million last August, according to Los Angeles County assessor records.

Simonian has met with residents living near the former Mix building to get their feedback and, so far, they’ve been supportive.

Resident Mike Morgan said the initial pitch was for a three-story structure, but one floor has been deleted from the plans. Now, he said Simonian’s project will fit well in the neighborhood.

“There’s a transition on Honolulu [Avenue]. One side is more commercial and the other side is Sycamore [Avenue], which is all residential, and I think [Simonian] nailed it,” Morgan said. “The people on the residential side were concerned. They didn’t want anything overbearing.”

Simonian, however, said he isn’t certain how many units will be part of his condo project. He said he’s waiting for feedback from various city departments before he will talk more specifics and that a proposal could head to the Design Review Board for consideration in about six months.

Simonian is the board’s chair, but he said he would recuse himself once his project comes up for review.

Morgan said he heard during the development’s presentation that the project could include 26 or 28 units. However, Simonian would neither confirm nor deny those figures.

The Mix closed roughly five years ago. Before that, it was known for a flurry of police activity. In a 2010 article, the News-Press reported local police officers logged 112 calls for service to the pool hall bar, which briefly also had its alcohol license suspended.

Melinda Clarke, executive director of the Montrose Verdugo Chamber of Commerce, recalled the Mix having many problems while it was open.

“[The Mix] was an incredible nuisance to those who lived right by it,” Clarke said. “A lot of noise backed up to the residential areas. There was always police activity going on there.”

Prior to the Mix, the building was a dance bar called Lady Jane’s, and before that, it was the Three Oaks, a family restaurant.

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Arin Mikailian, [email protected]

Twitter: @ArinMikailian