"We've taken a site that was once a hangout for transients andturned it into a place where people are standing in line to getinto the stores," said Michael A. Pollack, the Mesa developer whotransformed the dated 39,260-sf plaza at 5340 W. Glendale Ave. intoone of the city's hottest shopping outlets. "As a result of thisredevelopment, an aging structure on Glendale's main thoroughfarenow has new life, the city has a building of which it can be proudof and the residents have a clean, safe place to shop."

Pollack, president of Michael A. Pollack Real Estate Investmentswho is known as the "Plastic Surgeon of Real Estate" for his workin revitalizing old retail centers, purchased Glendale CentralCenter in 2000 and began revamping the building, adding newexterior and interior surfaces, glass front panels, landscaping,lighting and other improvements.His efforts won him an award ofappreciation from the city of Glendale, presented by councilmanDavid Goulet.