Mayor Talks About Land Use, 710 Stub and Affordable Housing in Traditional Service Club Address

In the traditional annual mayor’s speech to Pasadena Rotarians, considered by some to be a “dry run” of what the public will hear during the upcoming State of the City speech, Mayor Victor Gordo said people can expect to hear a lot from him in the future about land use.

“We will get past COVID. I’m confident about that,” Gordo told Rotary Club members on Wednesday. But, he said, “Post-COVID, I think we’re going to have to rethink land uses in Pasadena.”

Gordo said that local brick and mortar businesses have already been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and will continue to be challenged by online outlets such as Amazon.

“You can expect in the next year or two to hear a lot about land use and whether we should rethink and reuse some of the existing office and retail space,” Gordo said.

Gordo is required to present a speech every year updating Pasadena residents on the city’s fiscal condition.

During his speech Wednesday, AGordo also discussed the 710 stub and affordable housing.

Caltrans demolished dozens of African American homes during a failed effort to connect the 710 and the 210 freeways. The state transit agency held the land for years and for nearly 10 years that area of western Pasadena, just west of Old Pasadena, served as little more than a rock quarry.

“We’re hoping that the relinquishment process is completed by the end of this year,” Gordo said. “And then Pasadena can begin to reimagine that land and then it will be appropriate for us to have lots of discussion about what we want to see in that space.”

On housing, Gordo said the city has to “insist that the housing developments that occur stay true to the [the city’s] Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.” By sticking to the conditions of the ordinance, affordable housing would be constructed as development continues.

During a City Council review of Pasadena’s affordable housing policies and production in November, Gordo called for the formation of a housing commission.

Gordo said he wants local residents and professionals outside of City Hall to help city leaders figure out the current legislative plan to construct more affordable housing.

“I think we need to be bold as we look to the future of affordable housing, not just in Pasadena but in the entire region,” Gordo said at the time.