City Council to Discuss 710 Freeway Stub Working Group

The City Council will direct City staff regarding the creation of a working group to address future uses of the recently acquired former 710 freeway right-of-way “stub” property in West Pasadena.

The Council’s action follows its September 19, 2022 receipt of a report detailing the process of planning for the City-owned property.

More than 50 years ago, Caltrans seized hundreds of homes in southwestern Pasadena, the city of South Pasadena and the Los Angeles neighborhood of El Sereno through eminent domain in what ultimately became a failed effort to connect the Long Beach 710 and Foothill 210 freeways.

Caltrans demolished dozens of homes owned by African-Americans in western Pasadena for the project.

After decades, Caltrans voted unanimously to approve relinquishment of the 710 stub back to Pasadena in June.

The vote came after decades of uncertainty regarding the future of the 710 extension, and marked a historic moment in the City’s long-sought goal of re-envisioning and rebuilding what was once an integral and vibrant part of Pasadena.

Mayor Victor Gordo testified at a hearing of the California Transportation Commission in Sacramento.

City staff is recommending that the working group be comprised of 11 members that satisfy a number of areas of expertise. Councilmembers may submit candidate names to the City Manager’s Office to assist in the coordination of the group’s composition. 

The working group will be made up of a diverse cross section of community members with consideration of their background, expertise both professional and volunteer. 

Each Councilmember would nominate one individual with the balance to be nominated by the Mayor towards the goal of ensuring a well rounded working group. Subsequent to coordination and consultation with Councilmembers and the mayor, staff will provide the names of the working group members. 

“Community engagement will be an integral part of developing a model for the former 710 property and creating a working group will be an important step in the civic participation process,” according to a City staff report. “It is envisioned that the City Council would appoint residents to an advisory group that would be limited in duration to coincide with the completion of the 710 planning process.” 

The working group would be a Brown Act body for the purposes of transparency and would be advisory to the City Council to provide high-level input on the vision, land use, transportation network, and related key policy topics for the project area.