St. Luke Property May Become a Medical Center Again

A plan to return the years-vacant St. Luke Medical Center in northeast Pasadena to medical use by its new owners met an enthusiastic response at this week’s City Council meeting.

The predevelopment plan of the proposed project by new owners Denley Investment & Management Company was presented as an informational item to City Council on Monday.

“What they’re going to do – and I’m really excited – is that they’re going to keep it as a medical center. This would be urgent care radiology, a surgery center, a birthing center, even some dental services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, workers comp services, pharmacy, durable medical equipment, and a senior wellness center,” District 4 Councilmember Gene Masuda said.

With the project in his district, Masuda has met with the developers several times to express the needs of the city and held a meeting introducing the plan to neighbors on November 21.

According to Masuda, most area residents including officials from a nearby senior center had responded positively.
At least one resident, however, is displeased.

“The neighbors are going to have to suffer. I’m concerned that now there’s going to be a lot more activity there,” said Carla Caprarie, whose property lies to the south of the project site.

Caprarie said parking from Pasadena High School, shuttle buses for the Rose Parade and the Rose Parade floats that line up in their neighborhood already impact the neighborhood in significant ways.

Councilmember Margaret McAustin, who lived in the same neighborhood, vouched for Caprarie’s assessment.

“There were a couple of applications where that neighborhood did get short shrift. It’s understandable that they’re particularly sensitive about this project,” McAustin said. “So having lived in that neighborhood, I understand that. At the same time I think it’s a great thing for that neighborhood that this project is designed to reuse the building and is probably least impactful of possible alternatives for the site.”

Councilmember Victor Gordo assured the neighbor that the project is under strict scrutiny.

“This is a very sensitive parcel in our city and the fact that it’s here for a pre-development plan review is part of the high levels of scrutiny that we place on parcels like this,” Gordo said.

The proposal includes a plan to re-occupy the former hospital with medical offices; demolish the two-story “Annex Building” and a one-story office building, located south of the hospital building; construct a three-story, 280-space, 30 foot tall parking structure in the location of the “Annex Building”; and construct a 750 square foot receiving facility to the rear of the power plant to the southeast of the hospital building.

“I’m just really impressed by this opportunity for the city.  I’m on the graduate board at Saint Luke Hospital and for many years was really concerned about what that use might be.  It’s really wonderful that it’s going to be of medical use again,” Councilmember John Kennedy said.

The Medical offices would fill a large need that has been felt since the hospital closed in 2002.

“It created this big hole, this lack of services, so in case of an emergency which we all talk about – where are the people north of the 210 Freeway going to go?  This is not just for District 4, this is for all persons living north of the 210 Freeway – Altadena, Sierra Madre and all,” Masuda said.

David Bolour, vice president of Denley Investment & Management Company said when the project is complete the space would be rented out for medical offices rather than having an overarching medical company. However, an overseer would create a connected “synergy” and strategically plan the types of medical practices with the already built space.

Bolour said the chapel will be left as it is and even open it to the public to be used by a congregation.

“Were not touching it, it’s beautiful,” Balour said.