A commercial center anchored by a 99 Cents Only store could be replaced with multifamily housing, according to materials recently submitted to the Pasadena Design Commission for review.

The 2.6-acre project site, located a 452 N. Los Robles Avenue, is currently improved with the retail store, as well as medical offices and surface parking.  Developer Summerhill Apartment Communities is seeking approvals to raze the existing improvements to make way for the construction of a mixed-use building containing 227 one- and two-bedroom dwellings above nearly 4,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a two-level, 365-car underground garage.

KTGY Architecture + Planning is designing the project, which would consist of a four-to-five-story structure with a U-shaped building mass surrounding an L-shaped courtyard.  As currently conceived, the housing blocks would be oriented around a central courtyard and interconnected with pedestrian walkways linking to Los Robles, Villa Street, and Oakland Avenue.

While the Design Commission supported the proposed density and height of the project, a presentation given on August 11 represents preliminary design concepts, according to a statement released by KTGY.  The project is expected to be refined as it proceeds through the entitlement process.

Summerhill, which has offices in both the Bay Area and Orange County, is no stranger to the City of Pasadena.  The developer recently completed construction of a similar multifamily residential building less than a half-mile southeast at the corner of Corson Street and El Molino Avenue.