Polytechnic School Scraps Altadena Sports Complex Plan, Citing Unexpectedly High Costs

Polytechnic School has abandoned plans to build a sports complex in the Altadena foothills due to unexpectedly high development costs, school officials announced early Tuesday.

In a letter to the school community, Board of Trustees Chair Alec Hudnut and Head of School John Bracker said Poly, which is located in Pasadena near Caltech,  is officially withdrawing its land use application for the project.

“Infrastructure, engineering, and grading requirements drove the development costs to levels that were much higher than anticipated, and far beyond what we believe to be reasonable,” the letter stated.

The private school in Pasadena had submitted an application to Los Angeles County in May for the “PolyFields” project. Intensive environmental studies conducted since then revealed the site to be “too complex,” according to school leadership.

Despite this setback, Polytechnic officials say they remain committed to enhancing the school’s athletic facilities. A special Board committee, co-chaired by Trustees Henry Choi and Rosalina Cardenas, will explore alternative options, including potential single-site or multi-property solutions.

The school is also considering investments in existing on-campus athletic facilities.

Hudnut and Bracker expressed gratitude to the Poly community, Altadena residents, and local leaders for their input during the planning process. They also thanked Joe Nuccio and his family, who own the explored project site, for their partnership.

The letter emphasized that securing quality athletic fields remains “an important priority for the Board of Trustees and a vital component of Poly’s strategic vision.”

School officials pledged to keep the Polytechnic community informed as they pursue new options to address both short-term and long-term athletic facility needs.