City Council Expands Bungalow Heaven Historic Landmark District

The Pasadena City Council unanimously approved key amendments to the Bungalow Heaven Landmark District Conservation Plan, expanding the neighborhood’s historical recognition and preservation protections.

The changes extend the district’s period of significance from the original “turn of the century through the 1930s” to 1885 through 1956.

City staff and preservationists supported the amendments to more comprehensively document the neighborhood’s historic development. The updated plan now includes a formalized list of contributing properties, with 67 homes reclassified as historically significant and newly eligible for preservation incentives, including Mills Act contracts that offer property tax reductions.

The Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association initiated the amendment process in 2023. Despite two filed appeals concerning property values and the scope of changes, the Historic Preservation Commission denied the appeals, citing conformance with the City Charter and General Plan.

First designated as a landmark district in 1989, Bungalow Heaven continues to serve as a model for preservation practices in the region. The amendments maintain the district’s existing boundaries and review processes for property alterations while updating terminology to align with current preservation standards.