710 Advisory Group Calls for 3D Model of Neighborhood Before Freeway Construction

Members of Pasadena’s Reconnecting Communities Advisory Group are pushing for the creation of a 3D model depicting the vibrant neighborhood that existed before the construction was begun for the State Route 710 freeway through a swath of West Pasadena.

During a meeting on Wednesday, Advisory Group Members emphasized the importance of providing visual context to inform future redevelopment plans for the area. 

The Group is tasked with advising on the master plan process for approximately 50 acres of land relinquished by the California Department of Transportation after plans for the freeway extension were abandoned.

Instead of constructing a physical 3D model, the idea discussed was to create a computer-generated model. This approach allows for greater flexibility and the ability to incorporate various data sources, including historical photographs and documents.

The model would not aim to replicate every detail exactly but would instead provide a useful representation of the community’s past. Discussion indicated that by combining Sanborn maps with historical knowledge and images, the model could highlight significant landmarks and the overall context of the area prior to the freeway’s impact.

“I would love to see a 3D model of what it was like as well as pictures around the room that highlights that market that was there, the restaurant, the places and the spaces,” said Advisory Group Member Tina Williams.

Williams stressed that such a model would give people “a feel and a texture of what the community looked like” before the freeway construction. She argued this context is crucial for exploring future possibilities for the area.

The call for a 3D model came after a presentation by Allegra Consulting, which has been conducting oral history interviews with residents displaced by the freeway project. Suzanne Madison of Allegra reported that her team, in collaboration with the Architectural Resources Group (ARG), had also identified 57 displaced businesses in the area.

“It was a thriving community,” Madison said, describing the variety of businesses that once existed in the neighborhood.

Advisory Group Members expressed concern that without proper historical context, community engagement efforts might lead to skewed results. Williams recounted her experience at a recent youth workshop where participants lacked knowledge about the area’s history.

“When I sat down at the table with the youth, I asked them did they understand what redlining was and they had no concept,” Williams said. 

She added that the students were also unaware of the neighborhood’s past makeup, including its markets, churches, and schools.

Advisory Group Member Joel Bryant emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making in addressing issues of restorative justice. He called for more precise information about the number of condemned parcels and the amounts paid to property owners.

“Without the data, a lot of the decisions that deal with restorative justice without data, it all becomes personal and a little biased based on what we all value,” Bryant said.

City staff assured the Group that efforts are underway to gather as much historical information as possible. 

710 Stub Redevelopment Senior Project Manager Wendy Macias, 

a City representative, said they are working with consultants to “identify as much information of the community that existed in the 710 stub area.”

The meeting also clarified the Advisory Group’s role in relation to other city commissions, particularly the Planning Commission. Staff explained that while the Advisory Group focuses on community engagement and initial recommendations, the Planning Commission will be involved in later stages of the land use process.

Discussion also touched on the city’s recent purchase of 17 California Department of Transportation homes, with questions raised about how this information would be communicated to the community.

Towards the end of the meeting, Members learned of a newly formed ad hoc committee of the City Council, consisting of four Councilmembers, to review information related to the 710 project before it goes to the full Council.

Some Members, including Michelle Richardson Bailey, expressed concern about the focus solely on the 710 freeway, noting that families displaced by the 210 freeway also deserve attention.

The Advisory Group’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 18, where it is expected to continue discussions on community engagement strategies and historical documentation efforts.