Culver City-based developer Goldrich Kest is currently in the city review process for construction of the Central Park Apartments, a proposed mixed-use project that includes 84 units, 16 of those affordable, at the corner of South Fair Oaks Avenue and East Dayton Street, directly across the street from Central Park and right next door to both the historic Castle Green and the Green Hotel Apartments.
Architects drew their design inspiration from Colonel G.G. Green’s original 1903 vision for an expansion of the Castle Green complex.
The project was redesigned following preliminary project review and preliminary consultation review by the city’s Design Commission to reflect community feedback.
The project transforms a fenced-off surface parking lot into a transit-oriented mixed-use development with street-level retail businesses.
“We set out to create new apartment homes that will meet Pasadena’s need for new mixed-rate housing while carefully considering the project’s location within a historic block, in the context of the Old Pasadena Historic District, and its relationship to Central Park,” said Emily Taylor, a trained architect who is director of development at Goldrich Kest.
“We are very proud of how the project design has evolved, and how it will transform a surface parking lot into a transit-oriented housing development that will become a new gateway to Old Pasadena,” Taylor said.
The project, located within a half-mile of both the Del Mar and Memorial Park Metro Goldline Stations, is designed to connect to other nearby public transit with Central Park and Old Pasadena.
City commissioners and local residents raised concerns with the height and orientation of the original plans for a six-story mixed-use building with 64 residential units and 5,000 square feet of commercial space on an existing surface parking lot.
Issues included open space, removal of protected trees and traffic congestion.
The project is currently undergoing further review by city planners.
To learn more, visit www.1903vision.com.
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One thought on “Developer Unveils New Design for Controversial Apartment Complex Near Castle Green”
I think the new (#4) design is beautiful. I only wish it were going to be condominiums instead…but I suppose the building will be designed with that in mind down the road.
Castle Green is an odd place. I lived there for many years. There a treachery there that is sadly unavoidable if you are an Owner there who wants to get everyone on the same page. Castle Green Apartments is its legal Name, accept, it isn’t apartments, it’s condominiums as of 1997. Country Wide were the first to loan and look the other way on key issues having to do with the Davis Sterling rules.
The culture at Castle Green is anti progress, and I don’t know why. This beautiful addition will create a breezeway/courtyard that could be truly of natural beauty for whomever lives with windows looking into the court. The greenery that could be had could be arboretum like, and also be a new home for birds of all kinds. Also, when I lived there, the traffic noise and tire dirt from Fairoaks was intolerable. The proposed building will end this noise and also the firehouse siren’s direct hit on the Castle several times a day. So much is to be benefited from this project. Goldridge & Kesk might very well restore the west rear wall of Castle Green as gesture of goodwill. It certainly needs painting…if not just to waterproof the building in the mean time. The back wall of Castle Green Apts., is tragic and dangerous looking. A balcony already collapsed on the fancy east facade of Castle Green two years ago from sheer rot and zero maintenance. I myself owned an apartment there in the 1990’s. I bought it with rose colored glasses I’m afraid. This can be said for everyone else who’ve purchased condo’s in there time and time again even unto the present day. They have no idea the issues the deferred maintenance has caused. So it would be very smart for Castle Green to welcome their new neighbor who wishes to invest in in the Green Hotel and further beautify Old Town Pasadena.
Let’s hope they work together and create something beautiful for years to come.