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Not One But Two Hotels Planned for Desolate, Dismal Former Ford Dealership Near PCC

New project would dramatically transform Pasadena City College neighborhood

Published on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 | 4:53 am
 
Where now a former Ford dealership sits empty, not one but two hotels are planned on a block cater-corned to Pasadena City College's northwestern flank.

As Pasadena gears up for the coming wave of construction and development of six new hotels, at least one of the proposed projects would dramatically reshape its immediate local landscape and skyline.

The desolate and dismal sales lots and former show room of the Robert H. Loud Ford dealership is likely destined to be transformed into not one but two towering hotels, one on each side of Colorado Boulevard, the northern one rising seven stories to nearly 100 feet in height.

The project is planned to fill what is currently two empty car lots and former showroom.

Details for this project go before Pasadena’s Planning Commission Wednesday evening, even as preservationists prepare to do battle with the City Council in August over the construction of another hotel project, the proposed new Kimpton/YWCA project now planned for the Civic Center.

Back over by PCC, “The Hill & Colorado Hotel Project” would consist of two buildings designed by local architects Moule & Polyzoides — a 375-room hotel tower and a 150-room hotel — both with ground-floor commercial spaces, on Colorado Boulevard between North Hill Avenue and Holliston.

The two buildings would face each other across Colorado Boulevard at Holliston.

Currently the project is in line with the City’s General Plan land use designation, as well as the East Colorado Specific Plan (ECSP).

According to a recent Planning Commission report, the ECSP anticipates “a transformation from largely auto-oriented strip uses into a series of pedestrian-oriented villages and districts with unique identities, bolstered by their vibrant mix of uses, amenities, and streetscapes improving their walkability and appearance.”

The project will continue to “facilitate a transformation away from largely auto oriented uses,” the report stated. Of the two hotel buildings, the larger hotel on the North parcel will provide guest rooms and a variety of guest amenities—such as a fitness center, spa and pool—as well as conference and banquet room facilities.

The smaller South Parcel will feature either efficiency units or single-room occupancy units intended either for student residency only, or mixed use. Both parcels will also feature ground-floor, pedestrian-oriented commercial uses with a “diverse mix of land uses and a vibrant streetscape.”

There is also a smaller building at the northeast corner of the project site, which will not be included in the project’s development.

The hotel project was reviewed by the Design Commission on March 22, who advised Planning that the conceptual drawings “represented a proposed project that was of high quality and was appropriately massed and sited so as to be contextually compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.”

In addition to securing the required permits for on-premise alcohol sales, as well as a host of separate approvals for everything from parking to energy consumption, the project will also be subject to city regulations regarding landscaping, hardscapes, and irrigation.

Developers J & K Investments LLC will be required to submit a plan to include drought-resistant plant materials and/or low volume irrigation.

According to Planning Commission regulations, the project must also comply with a stringent City Trees and Tree Protection Ordinance, which provides for the protection of specific types of trees on private property, along with all trees on public property.

The Ordinance prohibits no street trees in the public right-of-way, and mandates that “no trees shall be removed without the approval of the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee.” Also, according to the ordinance, “The protection, pruning, relocation, and/or removal of any public tree shall be reviewed and approved by the City’s Parks and Natural Resources Division.

The developers will also be required, prior to issuance of building permits, to plant and maintain, for a period of three years, a specific maximum number of officially designated street trees per the City approved master street tree plan, as well as install and maintain an irrigation system for the trees:

According to the Planning Commission report, Engelmann  Oaks will be planted on North Holliston Avenue;  Incense cedars will be planted on South Holliston Avenue, with Trumpet trees to be planted on Colorado Boulevard, as well as additional Engelmann Oaks to planted on Hill Avenue.

The Trees must meet the City’s tree stock standards, be inspected by the City, and be planted according to the details provided by the Parks and Natural Resources (PNR) Division, and shall be approved by the Forestry Supervisor prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, according to a planning commission report.

Finally all of the new trees shall be maintained by either an existing or a new irrigation system to be built by the developers, who will also pay a “tree establishment deposit” to guarantee the new trees for 90 days. The developers would also be obligated to replace any trees which, for any reason, die or are damaged under its care. The 90-day tree establishment period would commence on the day that the Certificate of Occupancy is issued, according to the Planning Commission.

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