Paseo Colorado Re-Brands as Simply “The Paseo,” Proposes Redesigned Public Promenades and Courts

Pasadena’s Design Commission will meet Tuesday night at the City Council Chamber at City Hall to discuss two proposed upcoming development projects, an overhaul of public areas at the Paseo Colorado at 300 E. Colorado Blvd. to create a more hospitable retail environment and a separate proposal to build a two-to-three-story 13-unit apartment building at 439 North Hill Avenue.

The City’s staff report said Paseo Colorado is being rebranded as simply “The Paseo.”

Both projects are in the preliminary consultation phase of the City’s approval process.

Paseo Colorado at 300 E. Colorado Blvd. was originally built in 2002 as a substantial remodel of the former Plaza Pasadena. Proposed modifications under the submitted application will affect the existing buildings and site features in order to foster a more hospitable environment for existing and future retail and restaurant operations on the site.

The proposal is separated into zones that correspond to the common, public areas of the existing development and not involve addition of square footage or changes to commercial storefronts.

A Garfield Promenade is proposed to be constructed as the most important zone of the project because of its connection to the Pasadena Civic Center’s historic Beaux-Arts plan.

The project also proposes a Rainbow Court to replace the Fountain Court at the second floor of the existing structure, located west of the Garfield Promenade, and accessed by communicating stairs from both the Garfield Promenade and East Colorado Blvd. The large focal water feature element and pergola at this location will be retained, although a new pergola structure will be installed.

The existing Theater Court, a ground-level open plaza to the east of Garfield Promenade along Colorado Blvd. will be renamed Colorado Court and will include a fire pit, movable seating and built-up platform seating at the existing radial paving feature.

The project at 439 North Hill Avenue will require demolition of a single-family residence that’s currently on the site. The residence was constructed in 1912 by Henry C. Deming, with a garage built in 1938.

The house was evaluated by City staff and found to be eligible for historic designation as a landmark because of its being a locally significant example of an Arts and Crafts bungalow. But because the house is in a deteriorated state, the City required a reevaluation by Sapphos Environmental, which found the structures on-site were not eligible for individual designation under local, state or national criteria.

The Design Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.