Closed Charitable Retail Operation That Donated Over $8 Million to Huntington Hospital Wants to Reopen in Lamanda Park District of Pasadena

One of Pasadena’s most cherished charitable retail operations institutions is looking for a new home. 

The now closed Huntington Collections, the celebrated resale shop affiliated with Huntington Health (formerly Huntington Hospital) that sold merchandise through consignment and qualified donations and donated in excess of $8 million to the hospital over decades, needs to move to make way for new hospital construction.

Wednesday, the city’s Hearing Officer will hear the Huntington Collection’s plans to move to a vacant former bank location at 2670 E. Colorado Blvd. near San Gabriel Blvd. Moving the institution requires an approved Conditional Use Permit to establish a Charitable Institution land use within an existing 7,500 square-foot commercial tenant space, for which Huntington Hospital has applied. 

The property is located within the ECSP-CG-5-AD-2 (East Colorado Specific Plan, Lamanda Park area) zoning district.

The City’s Department of Planning and Community Development is recommending approval of the Conditional Use Permit. A staff report by the Department said retail uses, including the sale of second-hand goods, are permitted by right in the ECSP-CG-5-AD-2 zone. The Conditional Use Permit is only required for the Charitable Institutions land use – which includes regularly staffed drop-off facilities for clothing and household goods – in the zoning district. 

According to the staff report, the site is approximately 103,045 square feet in size and is located on the south side of Colorado Blvd. between South Vinedo Avenue and South San Gabriel Blvd. A one-story, 38,675 square foot commercial building is currently located onsite with surface parking. As proposed, Huntington Collections will occupy a 7,500 square foot tenant space in the building. 

From the proceeds of sales of one-of-a-kind merchandise, Huntington Collections has been providing support to the Huntington Hospital Senior Care Network, a nationally recognized program that helps older and disabled adults and their families remain healthy and independent. People can support Huntington Collections by either purchasing items from the store or by donating items that will turn into dollars and support the Senior Care Network. 

In 2014, Huntington Collections presented Huntington Hospital CEO Steve Ralph with a check in the amount of $230,000. Over the past three decades, donations from Huntington Collections have surpassed $8 million.

Wednesday’s public hearing by the Hearing Officer begins at 5:30 p.m. The community may access the video-conference through Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87444497807 or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the webinar ID 874 4449 7807. 

Public comments may be sent by email to byu@cityofpasadena.net. Comments may also be provided during the course of the public hearing.