So Tired, Tired of Waiting

Rockhaven has been on my mind a lot lately. With all this rain and the knowledge that the historic buildings are compromised, it weighs heavy with each passing rainstorm. Were there teams of people out in the elements protecting the open roofs? Had the tarps done an effective job in keeping the rain out? I had no way of knowing for sure.

I recently wrote about my family’s surprise connection to Rockhaven. This historical treasure was purchased in 2008 by the City of Glendale but, at that time, I was only peripherally aware that the old sanitarium existed at all. The story that I heard in 2009 was that Glendale had saved the property from a developer who had plans to knock down the houses and put up modern apartments. The City’s vision instead was to use the 3.4 acres at Rockhaven to relocate the Montrose Library and to expand the fire station next door into the library space. The Trader Joe’s lease had been in negotiations and it was announced that the rent money could be used to pay for the relocation projects and to add park space at Rockhaven. How wonderful!

A documentary produced by GTV6 Glendale in 2010 confirmed the City’s plan to preserve the property as a place of respite for the community. The name of the film was called “Rockhaven: A Sanctuary from Glendale’s Past” and it can still be found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88-u9JENth0. The Historical Society of Crescenta Valley was delighted that Glendale had made the commitment to save the last sanitarium in La Crescenta and that its history would be shared. But not so fast …

By 2014, the tone of the discussion had changed. A slow economic recovery since the purchase of the property and the state’s redevelopment funds having dried up caused Glendale to change course. In response to inquiries, City officials started using phrases like, “The project is required to have a housing component” and “Any proposal must generate revenue to pay for itself.” No other park in Glendale had this requirement, even historical properties like the Stone Barn at Deukmejian Park. The City was now only interested in business plans that made money to pay for renovations, especially since the Trader Joe’s funds had been diverted elsewhere.

Community members were shocked to hear this and were even more disturbed by the business proposals under consideration that removed public access to the site entirely. Still, no actual work had been done besides a new roof on the caretaker’s cottage in 2013. All the other houses remained untouched except for the routine cleanings done by Friends of Rockhaven volunteer members, when allowed.

For the next several years, Glendale contracted with a couple of different companies to rehabilitate the Rockhaven site but neither of them worked out due to disagreements with the City. Buildings remained untouched and vacant. In 2021, State Senator Anthony Portantino proposed and secured $8.25 million to renovate and preserve the historically significant Rockhaven property for the public to enjoy and appreciate, and to create the Rockhaven Mental Health History Museum. This influx of money was the gift Friends of Rockhaven had been dreaming of and members were excited that at last the work could get started. But that didn’t happen either.

As of this writing, no contractors have been hired, no new roofs were installed or structures rehabbed, and no new history museum has come to fruition. The poorly placed roof tarps allowed rainwater to pour in and flood the buildings. Every house has mold growing on walls and floors except the caretaker’s cottage. We are heartbroken, frustrated and just plain mad. During the fifteen years since the City of Glendale acquired Rockhaven, leadership certainly has not been focused on preserving the jewel we have – instead only looking toward creating new affordable housing there.

What’s it going to take to fix this mess?