Last week, the Pasadena Design Commission reviewed a proposal to redevelop the former site of a nursery near the 210 Freeway with a mixed-use apartment complex.

The project, which would rise at 690-700 N. Orange Grove Boulevard, calls for the construction of a one-to-three-story building that would feature 48 residential units and 7,389 square feet of ground-floor retail space. 

A staff report lists the project applicant as an entity called Executive Development, LLC.

The proposed is being designed by Pasadena-based architecture firm Lim Chang Rohling & Associates, and is described as being of the Main Street Commercial and Craftsman styles.

The Design Commission has considered the proposed development at 700 Orange Grove on several occasions since 2017.  The staff report concludes that the developer has addressed prior feedback, and formulated a project that is largely consistent with applicable design and zoning rules for the property.  The report recommends that the commission should approve the application for concept design review, on the condition of requiring additional study of the detailing and articulation of its upper floors and courtyard-facing elevations.