Pasadena Moves Forward with Proposed Senior Affordable Housing at Civic Center
In a unanimous vote last Monday, the Pasadena City Council gave the approval to begin negotiations for the development of a senior affordable housing community on a city-owned parcel of land across from City Hall. The proposed development will provide 112 apartment homes for low-income seniors with an average affordability of 50% of the area median income, with 10% of the apartment homes set-aside for permanent supportive housing.
“We are honored to have been chosen to work alongside the City of Pasadena to provide an affordable housing community that complements the beautiful historic Civic Center District,” said National Community Renaissance (National CORE) President and CEO Steve PonTell. “At National CORE, we have a long history of creating high-quality, healthy, equitable communities that offer accessibility, affordability, stability, diversity, and safety.”
With 10% of the apartment homes set-aside for formerly homeless seniors, National CORE, in partnership with Union Station Homeless Services, will provide the platform for formerly homeless seniors to begin the process of rebuilding their lives. With the programs and services provided by Union Station Homeless Services, residents will have a support system as well as access to programs and services to promote housing stability and individual well-being.
“With almost 50 years of experience working with seniors within our adult programs, Union Station Homeless Services is excited to partner with National CORE on a permanent supportive housing community dedicated to serving the unique needs of seniors, one of our fastest-growing homeless populations,” said Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services. “We provide a wide array of supportive services to individuals and families throughout the San Gabriel Valley, including the residents living at Marv’s Place, a community for formerly homeless families in Pasadena owned and managed by National CORE.
“National CORE has proven to be a highly-skilled, mission-driven developer with one award-winning community in Pasadena,” stated Director of Housing William K. Huang. “We are eager to begin the negotiation process to develop a new community that will provide critically-needed affordable housing for Pasadena low-income seniors.”
Over the next couple of months, National CORE and the city will conduct negotiations on a disposition and development agreement. The final agreement is expected for City Council approval in early 2021, which will allow National CORE to secure other competitive financing and obtain important city approvals. Subject to awards for financing and completion of city design review, community engagement, and entitlement processes, construction could begin as early as 2022 and completed by 2024.
For more information about National CORE’s proposed affordable housing community in the historic Civic Center District, visit, nationalcore.org/ramona.