Council Hears, Discusses Update on Kaiser Permante Property

City officials are still working to reach an agreement with LA County to provide mental health and homeless services at a former Kaiser Permanente site. 

In April 2023, the City took formal ownership of the site at Lake Avenue and Villa Street. Kaiser Permanente vacated the property more than 10 years ago and it has sat empty ever since.

The property at Lake Avenue and Villa Street is slated to become a hub for affordable housing, mental health care, and primary outpatient services. 

City officials have been in discussions with the County on an agreement.   

“We should take another crack at it if that’s what we are going to do,” said Vice Mayor Steve Madison, who said he was willing to roll up his sleeves and do his part.

The property was declared surplus property by the City Council earlier this month, a necessary procedural step to facilitate the project.

Originally enacted in 1968, the Surplus Land Act (SLA) was modified in 2020 to ensure availability of property for affordable housing development. 

Declaring the 2.38 acre property as ‘surplus property,’ a crucial procedural step in transforming the long-vacant former Kaiser Permanente land into a community asset. This declaration, required under the State Surplus Land Act, allows the City to seek requests for proposals (RFPs) for the site’s development, paving the way for its planned repurposing.

The City has also released a Request For Information on the property, 

The City is early in that process according to David Klug, who serves as the City’s Economic Development Director.

The City is required to negotiate in good faith with any developers interested in the site.

City Manager Miguel Márquez said the City will follow the law and keep the county notified.  

 In April 2023, Gordo and Barger announced a new partnership to acquire the  Kaiser Permanente building that has stood empty in north Pasadena and transform it into a housing and community services site.  

Mayor Victor Gordo said the plan was to first acquire the property and then begin the work to provide needed services. 

“I do hope those discussions result with an agreement that provides us these separately needed services.”

Gordo said there was an opportunity to improve the location and provide compassionate services. 

In November the City said the property will be transformed into a community services site and housing that offers affordable housing, mental health care services, and primary outpatient services. 

The project was initiated in response to a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger in March to bring the services to the north Pasadena region, which was identified as a high-priority area by the County Department of Health Services.

Last year, Gordo and Barger announced a new partnership to acquire the building and transform it into a housing and community services site.

The project was initiated in response to a motion introduced by Barger in March to bring the services to the north Pasadena region, which the County Department of Health Services identified as a high-priority area.