The proposal, known as the Reconnecting Pasadena 710 Vision Plan, lays out a framework for redeveloping roughly 50 acres of land relinquished to the city in 2022 after the state abandoned plans to complete an ill-fated 710 freeway extension.
Staff is recommending that the City Council move forward with environmental review, land-use planning and financing strategies while also directing that the area become the City’s first carbon-neutral district.
The City Council is expected to review the plan and provide direction on next steps.
The plan also calls for creating a governance structure to oversee development and for continued coordination with state transportation officials.
At the heart of the proposal is a restorative justice framework intended to acknowledge and address the displacement of primarily African American, Japanese American, and Mexican American communities during freeway construction in the mid-20th century.
The plan recommends a formal public acknowledgment of those harms and outlines potential programs, including affordable housing targets, workforce development, and wealth-building opportunities for impacted residents.
Among the most ambitious proposals is a goal to build at least 1,800 housing units in the area, with a mix of rental and ownership opportunities at varying levels of affordability.
The plan also suggests financial assistance for qualifying displaced residents, potentially including payments of up to $150,000 to help restore lost generational wealth, though eligibility criteria have yet to be defined.
The Vision Plan outlines two primary development concepts — “Gardens and Terraces” and “Boulevards and Paseos” — both designed to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the freeway stub while prioritizing walkability, green space and multimodal transportation.
A preferred option emphasizes a network of boulevards, pedestrian pathways and a large roundabout to reduce traffic speeds and improve access throughout the area.
Transportation planning is central to the proposal, with officials aiming to shift the corridor away from its current freeway-oriented design toward a local street network that supports transit, biking and pedestrian use.
Early modeling suggests that without intervention, traffic conditions could worsen by 2035, while the proposed redesign could maintain or improve current conditions.
The plan also envisions a transit mobility hub near the northern edge of the site, potentially connecting residents to regional destinations and easing congestion during major events such as those at the Rose Bowl.
Sustainability is another key component, with the city exploring renewable energy systems, stormwater capture, and district-wide infrastructure such as microgrids and centralized heating and cooling. Officials say the project represents a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to build climate-resilient infrastructure from the ground up.
Despite its broad vision, the plan remains in an early stage. Officials acknowledge that significant questions remain, including how to finance infrastructure, structure governance and phase development over what could be a 30-year timeline.
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