Design Commission Hears Plans for Hyatt Place Hotel at Former Macy’s Site

The city’s  Design Commission on Monday July, 22 heard a proposal that would revamp the Paseo Colorado shopping mall, in part, with the construction a new six-story hotel, a two-story commercial building, and significant changes to the Garfield Promenade.

Committee members and the public offered their ideas and outlined their fears to the developers.

The meeting began with a summary by Richard McDonald of the RTKL firm, a design firm with offices worldwide.

“By bringing in the Design Commission early, we can save hundreds of thousands of dollars by mitigating red flag issues,” he said.

The developer’s plans call for demolishing the 160,000 square foot former Macy’s department store located on the east end of the Paseo Colorado to make way for a Hyatt Place hotel with 175 rooms.

Hotel development will include a motor court, a new ramp for two levels, underground parking, and a new loading dock. Other proposed changes include modifications to the Garfield Promenade.

The Bennett Plan was then discussed, which seeks to preserve the integrity of the Garfield corridorrunning north from the Paseo Colorado up to  the civic center and the main library.

Architect Gene Fong presented a 3D color computer mock up of the proposed new development, complete with street level views, to aerial sky views of the rooftops.

“Getting the design commission input is vital, their input is invaluable in the beginning of projects, this back and forth moves the project along quicker if the council is engaged,”said Fong.

After the demonstration, Commissioner Mic Hansen voiced her concern that the hotel faces Green Street, saying  it would be better suited to face Colorado Boulevard.

Commissioner Roberto Moreno suggested “bookending” the block development by increasing the Hyatt Place hotel to nine stories.

“Pasadena is a city that loves its one and one half story buildings, but here is a case where we are requesting it to be larger,” Moreno said, bringing laughter from the commission as well as the public.

More concerns about the buildings entrances and exits being located on Green Street were stressed by Ruth Christianson. A fifty-five year resident of Pasadena, she said “The traffic on Green Street is dangerous to drivers and pedestrians. In the past month there have been three accidents.”

With these ideas presented by the commission to RTKL, it’s now “back to the drawing board” for the compnay to refine its plans.