When it opened last year, health and safety measures stemming from the global pandemic kept photographers out of Pasadena's Theo development.  Now, with new vaccination rates up and new cases of coronavirus receding in Los Angeles County, developer Summerhill Apartments Communities is ready to offer a look inside.

Rendering by KTGY Architecture + Planning

The six-story building, located at 289 N. El Molino Avenue, features 105 one- and two-bedroom units, including street-fronting townhomes and penthouse-style apartments.  A total of 154 parking spaces are also located in a subterranean garage.

At the time of its opening, rents at Theo ranged from $2,400 to $4,900 per month, according to a leasing website.  A one-bedroom unit at the complex currently runs for $3,225 per month.

Aerial view of Theo looking northwest toward the 210 FreewayJohn Bare

KTGY Architecture + Planning designed the project, which incorporates elements of Mid-Century Modern design into its exterior, providing a contrast with the project's neighbor and namesake:  which contrasts with its historic neighbor: the historic Theodore Parker Lukens House.  Completed in the mid-1880s, the Victorian home is among the oldest structures in Pasadena.

In addition to housing, Theo's design includes multiple courtyards and a series of rooftop terraces with views oriented toward the San Gabriel Mountains and the Lukens house.

“Pasadena requires 30% of total gross square footage to be outdoor usable open spaces,” said Keith McCloskey, KTGY's Executive Director of Design in a 2020 news release. “We configured these in combinations of active and passive courtyards – each curated to create a unique experience and many to maximize different views.”

Rendering of Theo by KTGY Architecture + Planning

The project site is located one block north of Walnut Avenue, where several similar multifamily housing projects are currently planned or under construction.

Summerhill, a subsidiary of brokerage firm Marcus & Millchap, was also slated to build a second Pasadena housing complex at the current site of a 99 Cents Only store at Los Robles Avenue and Villa Street.  However, Pasadena Now reports that the developer withdrew its application on May 6, effectively cancelling the project.