14-Unit Apartment Building Proposed for East Bellevue Drive

A developer plans to demolish a century-old Spanish Colonial Revival house to make way for a 14-unit apartment building on East Bellevue Drive.

The Pasadena Design Commission will review the preliminary plans Tuesday evening. The regular meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

A report by the Department of Planning and Community Development said the project at 264 E. Bellevue Drive would replace a single-family home built in 1922 and a detached garage from 1925. Both structures would be razed under the proposal.

A historic evaluation completed in July 2022 determined the property does not qualify for landmark designation, the report said.

The proposed four-story building would include 18,858 square feet of residential space. Two units would be designated for very low-income residents.

Plans call for four three-story townhouses at the front with rooftop access. Ten single-level units would occupy the building’s rear across four floors.

The design features a main courtyard garden as required by city development standards. A 21-space subterranean parking garage would sit beneath the structure.

The 0.26-acre site sits on the south side of East Bellevue Drive between South Marengo and South Euclid avenues. It lies in the CD-RM-32 zoning district, which allows 32 residential units per acre.

Nearby historic resources include the South Marengo Historic District and Bryan Court. The Evanston Inn, built in 1887, also sits close to the project site.

Staff called the contemporary design consistent with the neighborhood’s eclectic character. Surrounding properties include multi-family buildings ranging from one to three stories in various architectural styles.

The building would stand 30 feet high at the front, according to the report. It would rise to 43 feet where it reaches four stories.

Planners noted several design elements need refinement. Planning Department staff recommended simplifying architectural features on front elevations and improving connections between the front unit and main garden.

The project requires further review before final approval. Building permits would follow Design Commission authorization.

This marks the second proposal for the property, the report said. The applicant previously consulted on an eight-unit project in January 2024 but did not pursue that plan.

---