Downtown Pasadena Neighborhood Association

Pasadena City Council began negotiations for the development of a senior affordable housing community in the historic Civic Center District.

You can now view Civic Center presentations from potential developers of the Julia Morgan designed YWCA building and former Water and Power site here: www.cityofpasadena.net/economicdeve/civic-center-proposals/

This afternoon the City of Pasadena hosted a virtual round of presentations for (re)development of the long-vacant YWCA building and empty Water/Power lot across the street across the street from Pasadena City Hall. Attached are some screenshots of the presentations. We'll be sure to post a link to the full video as soon as it become available. BACKGROUND (via City): In June, 2019, the City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the... former YWCA building, located at 78 North Marengo Avenue. As the City was proceeding with the RFP, a state law related to affordable housing changed in January 2020, and compelled Pasadena to pause the RFP process. Despite Pasadena’s pursuit of affordable housing as part of the Civic Center development, the new State law required the City to issue a Notice of Availability (NOA) to a broader set of affordable housing developers. As a result of the City’s 2019 RFP process and the 2020 supplemental NOA process to comply with updated State regulations, Pasadena currently has three affordable housing proposals for the Ramona Street lot, and two development proposals for the renovation of the YWCA building block. The Affordable housing developers include: 1) Abode Communities, proposing 103 dwelling units for families in a 5-level building which may include subterranean parking; 2) National Community Renaissance of California, proposing either a 94-unit family project or a 112-unit senior housing project in a 5-level building, with 94 on-site parking spaces for the family project and 50 on-site parking spaces for the senior project; and 3) BRIDGE Housing proposing to construct a 72-unit affordable housing project for seniors with approximately 39 spaces on site in a 4-level building on the Ramona Street lot. The two remaining developers which are seeking to renovate the YWCA building and make improvements to the block are: 1) HRI Properties, LLC of New Orleans, LA, whose plans are to restore the former YWCA building into a 179-room historic hotel; and 2) Edgewood Realty Partners, LLC of South Pasadena, CA, whose plans are to restore the YWCA building into a 164-room hotel operated by Palisociety.

Yippee! Playhouse Park is moving forward! Here's the presentation of the Final Design that was presented in last month's digital Open House. Can't wait!! https://vimeo.com/456357557

"Small, spartan apartments cost less to build than large, luxury apartments, but their parking spaces cost the same. Because many cities require the same number of spaces for every apartment regardless of its size or quality, the required parking disproportionately increases the cost of low-income housing. One study found that minimum parking requirements raise housing costs by 13 percent for families without cars. Indeed, a single parking space can cost more than the net wor...th of many U.S. households. One study found that in 2015 the average construction cost (excluding land cost) for parking structures was about $24,000 per space for aboveground parking and $34,000 per space for underground parking. By comparison, the U.S. Census of Wealth and Asset Ownership in 2015 found that the median net worth (the value of assets minus debts) was $110,500 for white households, $19,990 for Hispanic households and $12,780 for African American households. One space in a parking structure, therefore, costs more than the entire net worth of more than half of all Hispanic and black households in the country." www.bloomberg.com//how-to-reform-your-city-s-bad-parking-r

Pasadena Will Shine in Purple and Gold in Celebration of Women’s Right to Vote.

Some thoughts on architecture: https://www.theschooloflife.com//why-is-the-modern-world-s

Saturday's Evening Post of Playhouse Park renderings, and a shameless plug for Pasadena's CENSUS effort Playhouse Park will be on the corner of El Molino and Union St, on that triangular lot behind Vroman's and Laemmle Theatres. - https://mailchi.mp//july-2020-pasadena-census-with-playhou

Jones Coffee is reopening this Saturday! Come’on out to support our locally-owned neighborhood coffee shop!! Jones Coffee Roasters

See how Pasadena is performing on the US Census... folks, this is important! - https://mailchi.mp//see-how-pasadena-is-performing-on-the-

Monday's fresh delivery of Playhouse Park renderings, and a shameless plug for Pasadena's CENSUS effort. There's a new park being designed for Downtown Pasadena... Playhouse Park. It's pretty cool! The new park will be on the corner of El Molino and Union St, on that triangular lot behind Vroman's and Laemmle Theatres. CLICK FOR NEW RENDERINGS.

There's a new park being designed for Downtown Pasadena... Playhouse Park. Behind Vroman's and Laemmle Theatres. But meanwhile...there's also a CENSUS going on, and we need Pasadena to respond. So, this week we're blasting the CENSUS message along with teaser photos of the new park design (in progress). Enjoy! https://mailchi.mp//july-2020-pasadena-census-with-playhou

Census week, with Playhouse Park teasers! - https://mailchi.mp//july-2020-pasadena-census-with-playhou