In June 2019, the City of Pasadena issued a request for proposals seeking development options for two properties in the heart of its Civic Center.  Next week, a community meeting will offer an opportunity to review and offer feedback to five respondents to the solicitation.

The first property - an empty site at the southwest corner of Ramona Street and Garfield Avenue - receives proposals from three prolific developers of affordable and permanent supportive housing.  They include:

  1. Abode Communities - which has proposed a five-story building containing 103 family apartments above subterranean parking;
  2. National CORE - which has proposed a five-story building containing either 94 family apartments and 94 parking spaces or 112 senior apartments with 50 parking spaces; and
  3. BRIDGE Housing - which has proposed a four-story building containing 72 senior affordable housing units and a 39-car garage.

The second property - the historic YWCA Building at 78 N. Marengo Street - is the subject of proposals from two developers, both of which intend to turn the Julia Morgan-designed structure into a hotel.

New Orleans-based HRI Properties has proposed the restoration of the property as a 178-room hotel, while South Pasadena-based Edgewood Realty Partners has imagined the building as a 164-room inn operated by Palisociety.

The current RFP process is not the first attempt to convert the 1920s YWCA into a hotel.  Kimpton Hotels had previously secured development rights for the historic property, but saw its plans fizzle after seeking more than $30-million in development incentives.

The meeting to discuss the competing proposals is scheduled for September 22 at 3 pm.  To participate, use the following links and phone numbers:

Meeting URL:
us02web.zoom.us/j/81408196059
Or Telephone:
US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799  
Webinar ID: 814 0819 6059
International numbers available: us02web.zoom.us/u/kARj8aZ7y