Altadena residents are opposing a housing project proposed for Lincoln Avenue and Figueroa Street, just north of the Pasadena border.
The project at 2439-2445 Lincoln Ave. would be five stories tall and contain 94 units.
According to real estate sites, the asking price on the property was $2.9 million in 2019.
According to a petition, Affirmed Housing Group is developing the property. Additional details on the project were not found on the developer’s website on Sunday.
In a letter to local leaders, including Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Assemblymember Chris Holden, state Sen. Anthony Portantino and Gov. Gavin Newsom, local residents called for the project to be rejected.
“We, the undersigned of the greater Altadena community, respectfully petition L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger to instruct 5th District Regional Planning Commissioner Pat Modugno to not approve the proposal of Affirmed Housing Group to construct a 96-unit studio and one-bedroom apartment building at 2439-2445 Lincoln Ave.,” the petition states.
According to the petition, the project will negatively affect the health and welfare of the community and is inconsistent with the height and density portion of the Altadena Community Standards District (CSD).
The project would be 64 feet high. Current standards are 35 feet. Local residents also claim there is insufficient parking. With about 30 spaces located at grade, and no underground parking for the 96 to 120 residents and staff, there will be additional traffic and congestion in the area, according to the petition.
“I’m opposed to this project because it will set a precedent that will allow other developers to come into the community and duplicate this project,” wrote Camille Dudley.
“It will decrease the property values in the neighborhood. This type of project would never be allowed in the neighborhoods east of Lake Avenue. This development is a tactic used by developers in mainly minority neighborhoods where they feel they will have the least opposition,” Dudley said.
The site once housed a gas station. It was unclear how much cleaning up has been done or if an environmental impact report has been completed.
As of Sunday afternoon, the petition had been signed by 350 people, including former Altadena Town Councilmember Steve Lamb.
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8 thoughts on “Altadena Residents Circulate Petition Against Five-Story Housing Project on Lincoln Avenue”
NIMBY squawk NIMBY squawk NIMBY squawk NIMBY squawk NIMBY squawk NIMBY squawk NIMBY squawk
Affirmed Housing is prioritizing profits over people. The height, unit density, and lack of adequate parking is a slap to the face of the people who live in the neighborhood. 30 parking spots for 120+ people is a joke. Planners know it won’t be enough parking spots and don’t care about the increased infrastructural and environmental strain it will have on the area. What’s most frustrating is that there is no communication from the developers or the local public officials about the status of the project.
A three-story, 50 unit complex would be met with more community approval and actually fit into the neighborhood. We desperately need more affordable housing in the area, but this apartment complex dwarfs it’s surroundings and would take away the privacy of the established single-story homes and two-story apartments in the area.
Affirmed Housing doesn’t even pretend to care about anything other than making money and maximizing the tax incentives.
Sign the Petition here: https://www.change.org/p/no-five-story-building-on-this-site-in-altadena
The size of the building is the problem. Why so large? I doubt we’ll see these projects in wealthier areas. People whining about other folks doing NIMBYism have no problem with folks peeping in their yards.
This is not a NIMBY. If it stayed within the guidelines of our community it would be fine. There would be no petition. We know we need affordable housing. There are exactly ZERO 5 story buildings in our community. 2-3 stories within the CSD community standards and we welcome the new neighbors and welcome housing development.
Not adequate parking. No way should that be built in the neighborhood.
Maybe not NIMBYism, maybe it is. Yes, it’s big and yes, it needs more parking. But that lot has been an empty eyesore for 15+ years now. (I know because my former mechanic was evicted so it could be used for something else). But it is sorely needed. Altadena pretends to be a welcoming community, especially on the west side. Can we live up to our professed ideals? If this development can get 100 people out of tents and into permanent housing, shouldn’t we be more compassionate and less concerned about inconvenience?
This section of Northwest Altadena is already home to two large youth group homes, a government-run senior living facility, and various smaller group homes within a 1.5 mile radius. The community is doing more than its fair share. It’s time for equity in the placement of such facilities. Developers are cutting corners by providing the bare minimum in terms of parking and exploiting new regulations that allow for literal towers to be built in people’s backyards. This type of building will mean tower residents can look into people’s backyards, it eliminates any sense of privacy for blocks. This particular project has known shortcomings and the developer, Supervisor Barger, Assemblyman Holden, and State Senator Portantino are doing nothing to address it. Let’s be compassionate to local residents as well as in need of shelter.
The privatization of supportive and affordable housing will lead to the exploitation of minority communities. It’s also easy to say yes to disruptive housing when you don’t have to live with the consequences. Typical YIOBYism (Yes in Other’s Backyards).