Pasadena Unified Mulls 115-Unit Workforce Housing Project at Roosevelt Elementary Campus

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education is set to vote Thursday on whether to pursue a streamlined approval process for a proposed workforce housing project at Roosevelt Elementary School at 315 N. Pasadena Ave.

The Board will consider approving an entitlement submittal under Senate Bill 35, which would expedite the project’s approval process and exempt it from California Environmental Quality Act review. The recommendation comes from the Superintendent’s Advisory Group on Workforce Housing.

The proposed project aims to provide affordable housing options for District staff, with a focus on family-friendly units. 

The plan calls for approximately 115 units in a Mediterranean/Spanish Revival architectural style, chosen to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impacts.

“Offering affordable housing options to District staff can help attract talented educators and staff to the District and encourage long-term retention and a reduction in turnover rates,” according to a Board report.

If approved, the project would include a mix of units:

• 30% one-bedroom
• 40% two-bedroom
• 23% three-bedroom
• 7% four-bedroom

The project must meet affordability requirements, with 50% of units designated for low-income households under SB 35 guidelines.

The advisory group, comprised of community representatives, two Board members, and housing consultants, has met five times to evaluate entitlement pathways and project feasibility.

The SB 35 approval process could reduce the timeline for approvals to about six months, compared to up to 24 months for a standard city entitlement process.

The Board meeting is scheduled for August 29, 2024. 

If approved, the project would move forward with schematic design and required third-party reports before submitting an entitlement application to the City.