City Wants Information From Property Owners Open to Using Land For Tiny Village

The City has posted a request for information from any property owner who might consider using their land for a tiny village.

Tiny village projects utilize detached one or two-bed dwellings of less than 100 square feet, typically complete with air conditioning, heating, nearby laundry facilities, outdoor eating areas, restrooms and showers. Outdoor security is also usually provided. 

“The City of Pasadena is exploring opportunities to expand emergency shelter resources, including pallet or modular units, to serve people experiencing homelessness. This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to gather information from private landowners, developers, social service providers and/or faith-based organizations who may be interested in partnering with the City for the development of a tiny village project that would provide temporary shelter for Pasadena’s unsheltered residents,” according to a City document obtained by Pasadena Now. 

“The City is issuing this RFI to determine interest among property owners and the availability of local sites that could functionally work for such a project.”

So far three companies are listed as prospective bidders on the project: Deltek, EAH Inc, and the Property Sciences Group.

“The ‘Tiny Village’ model offers one potential option to address this growing need for people experiencing a housing crisis,” the document states. “The model has become popular nationwide and locally, and regulations for tiny villages have been adopted by several jurisdictions in California.”

Currently there are five tiny village projects that are in operation in Los Angeles County, according to a City document. They are located in North Hollywood, Baldwin Park, Highland Park, Eagle Rock and Montebello. The average length of stay at a tiny village is three to 12 months. 

Last week, the City was urged to include the creation of a tiny home village in Pasadena’s Homelessness Plan to address a perceived lack of inadequate interim housing for local homeless during the City’s Human’ Services Commission.

Previously, Housing Director William Huang had said he prefers converting motels to homeless housing rather than building tiny villages.

Several Councilmembers have said they are not sure if the model is best for Pasadena. 

In March, the City’s Office of Economic Development provided information about City-owned vacant lots in Pasadena in response to Councilmembers’ request for information on properties that could potentially be used for a tiny shelter community for homeless people.

Currently there are 12 vacant City-owned properties in Pasadena. The sizes of the properties range from 0.1 acres to 1.15 acres.

At that meeting, one community member called on the city to use some vacant property for a tiny village. 

Over 500 residents of Pasadena are experiencing homelessness as of January 2022.