Reconnecting Communities 710 Project Back on Track After Altadena Fire Pause

The Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group reconvened Wednesday for the first time since November, confirming that despite a two-month pause due to the devastating Eaton Fire that severely impacted Altadena and parts of Pasadena, the project remains on track with a community workshop now set for April 12.

“The unimaginable devastating fires that impacted Altadena severely and also impacted Pasadena” necessitated the cancellation of meetings in January and February, explained Chair Danny Parker during the March 19 meeting. “We also do need to keep moving forward with this project and do it in honor of and … propelled by what has happened to make sure that this community remains strong and that we do come together.”

The meeting included a comprehensive presentation by Dr. Paul Ong from UCLA’s Center for Neighborhood Knowledge on the historical impacts of freeways on segregation in Pasadena. Dr. Ong’s research documented how the freeway construction, along with contemporaneous urban renewal projects, contributed to racial and economic polarization in the city from the 1950s through 1980s.

“Clearly we believe that the freeway was a contributing factor for some of these changes,” Dr. Ong explained. “The choice of the path is not accidental. It followed the path of least political resistance and least costs to the state in terms of constructing.” This resulted in the displacement of approximately 1,800 housing units directly in the freeway-impacted areas, according to the UCLA report.

710 Senior Project Manager for the City of Pasadena Wendy Macias presented an updated project calendar, explaining how the 24-month planning process is divided into three 8-month phases. Despite the pause during January and February, the project remains on track as it transitions from the “creative analysis” phase to the “options and engage” phase.

“That pause will not affect our project schedule,” Macias assured the advisory group. “That will be made up in some of that buffer time that is included in all three phases across the 24-month period.”

Macias confirmed that the community engagement workshop originally scheduled for January 25 has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center in room 107. The workshop will introduce historical project findings, restorative justice work, and master plan concepts from consultants Perkins Eastman.

Several advisory group members raised concerns about the April 12 date coinciding with the first day of Passover. Member Cynthia Kurtz noted, “That is the first day of Passover and the first two nights are the most important. And I know it’s during the day, but it’s kind of like saying, ‘don’t worry, we can meet Christmas Eve. It doesn’t start till nine.’”

Chair Parker asked staff to investigate alternative dates if possible.

During the meeting, the advisory group viewed a 12-minute promotional video created for the workshop, which prompted significant discussion about its approach and content.

Several members expressed concern that the video appeared to show that decisions have already made rather than soliciting genuine input.

Member Remy De La Peza observed, “Some of the planning components sort of came across to me as already decided. There’s like, here’s where the park is going to go and here’s how we’re going to connect Westgate to Ambassador. I don’t know if we want to send that message while also being like, come tell us what you want to envision.”

Member Tina Williams emphasized the importance of incorporating stories from people who lived in the area before freeway construction: “I still didn’t get a flavor for what the community looked like.” She continued, “Stories are important. If you had the opportunity to have Allegra [a consulting firm contracted to support the advisory group] has interviewed numerous people who lived in the community, integrating their story into this would’ve been a wonderful opportunity.”

Williams she hoped to learn, “What did your community feel like when you lived there before? Where were the walkable spaces? How did you get to church, to the school? Who were your neighbors? What did they look like?”

Member Jose Luis Correa pointed to the importance of personal recollections and connections to the area.

“We lost neighborhoods. We lost a neighborhood grocery store of the little Asian guy that would give us credit just because he was a nice guy. Things like that is what people need to know,” Correa said.

Member Williams also advocated for holding a future community meeting in Northwest Pasadena, the area most impacted by the original freeway construction: “I want to encourage staff to find a place in Northwest to have the community meeting… the history of this having impacted Northwest Pasadena, I think, and of course we have Friendship Church right there at the heart of the 710.”

City staff emphasized that despite the public meeting pause, work on the project continued behind the scenes.

Assistant City Manager Harvey Williams detailed ongoing collaboration with Caltrans, economic development research, sustainability planning, and finalizing historical reports. She noted that the Economic Development Department is seeking consultants to advise on potential funding structures, including “enhanced infrastructure financing districts and tax increment financing known as EIDs or TIF.”

The next meeting of the full Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group is scheduled for April 16, when additional standing committees will be launched.