Pasadena Hearing Officer to Review Salvation Army Facility One Year After Opening

The Pasadena Hearing Officer will conduct a routine 12-month review of the Salvation Army’s charitable facility at 1000 East Walnut Street during its regular meeting Wednesday evening.

The review focuses on Conditional Use Permit (CUP) #6815, which was approved in July 2020 allowing the Salvation Army to establish a charitable institution on the ground floor of a four-story building known as the Hope Center.

The purpose of the hearing is to assess whether the facility is operating effectively and complying with the conditions established in the original permit, according to a report by the Department of Planning and Community Development.

The Salvation Army facility, which opened on October 12, 2023, provides various social services to residents facing economic hardship or homelessness. These services include food distribution, crisis counseling, financial assistance, and homelessness prevention programs specifically for veteran households.

The food distribution operates similar to a traditional food store, allowing those in need to select items on display. The facility also includes office space for confidential client interviews and case management.

The Planning Department has recommended that the Hearing Officer acknowledge that all permit conditions remain valid and that the operation is in compliance.

The four-story building includes 68 supportive housing units on the upper floors, which were allowed by right under the city’s zoning code and were not subject to the conditional use permit being reviewed.

The 27,095-square-foot property is located at the southwest corner of East Walnut Street and North Catalina Avenue, with a surface parking lot behind the building.

The Hearing Officer meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Permit Center Hearing Room at 175 N. Garfield Avenue.