Senior housing complex to replace church parking lot in Pasadena

The parking lot of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Pasadena could be redeveloped with senior housing, per an agenda item from the September 14 meeting of the city's Design Commission.

Belmont Village, a developer which specializes in senior housing projects, is seeking approvals to build a five-story edifice on the north side of El Dorado Street between Oakland and Madison Avenues.  The 117,000-square-foot building would feature 131 studio, one-, and two-bedroom dwellings, in addition to amenities such as a pool, a screening room, and dining areas.  Additionally, plans call for a two-level, 195-car subterranean parking garage which would serve employees of the senior housing facility, as well as the adjacent church.

Pasadena-based GGA is designing the project, which would consist of a contemporary podium-type building.

"The regimented fenestration visually ties into to the composition of the columns of the neoclassical design of the adjacent church," reads a staff report.  "The design also includes open balconies and rooftop terraces with arbors and canopies, with the majority of the rooftop balconies and open terraces facing north or toward the courtyard.  The building design takes into account the sensitive adjacent historic resource and responds by utilizing graduated massing that transitions in height from two stories at the northwest corner of the site, closest to the church, to five stories at the center of the site and then back down to four stories facing South Madison Avenue."

The Design Commission hearing was for a preliminary review of the proposed development, and a vote was not scheduled.  Construction of the facility is contingent on the approval of zoning entitlements and the design concept, as well as the issuance of building permits.

Belmont Village, based out of Houston, Texas, is also behind plans for a second senior housing complex that would replace another church parking lot in Westwood.

• Pasadena (Urbanize LA)