City Council Hears Preliminary Plan for New Senior Affordable Housing Housing Project Proposed to be Built Facing City Hall

The City Council on Monday conducted a predevelopment plan review of the proposed 5-story affordable housing project for the elderly in the Civic Center, across the City Hall.

The purpose of a predevelopment plan review by the City Council is to achieve better projects through early consultation between city staff and project applicants.

Certain projects considered to be of community wide significance go to city council for this type or review.

The proposed project, located at 280 Ramona St/279 E. Holly St., includes 83,050 square feet of senior affordable housing with 112 units.

The project involves the construction of common on-site amenities for residents; resident support offices; outdoor amenities, including a private courtyard for residents; and 44 parking spaces.

The proposed building would hold 112 studio and one-bedroom rental units, all of which are intended to be affordable and dedicated for seniors, plus a two-bedroom manager’s unit.

“What a beautiful and much needed addition to our Civic Center,” said Pasadena resident Anthony Manousos in his comment to the Council..

Manousos also remarked that the council is setting a “moral” example to other cities by placing an affordable housing facility at the heart of the city.

“Pasadena is demonstrating that our city has a vision to ensure that everyone has ‘decent, safe, and affordable housing,’” he added.

“We have such an enormous need for affordable and supportive housing in our City,” resident Sonja Berndt told the Council. “This project is a wonderful example.”

“I am in favor of and applaud the efforts of the City of Pasadena and City Council in furthering this project,” Phyllis Chestang said. “This project directly addresses the housing shortage and crisis that we are all enduring.”

During the meeting, Councilmember John Kennedy asked the applicant to consider naming the project for Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Associate Justice for his efforts to address the need for equal access to decent housing. (In fact, the street block which runs along the northern edge of City Hall is called Thurgood Marshall Street.)

Kevin Chin, who represented the applicant, National Community Renaissance of California, promised to consider Kennedy’s suggestion.

The project is required to be reviewed by the Design Commission for concept and final design review approval.

The other steps included in the review process are as follows: submission of Tentative Parcel Map and/or Affordable Housing Concession Permit application for the proposed project; environmental review per CEQA; and public hearing before the Hearing Officer.